A daring Mexican military strike ended the reign of El Mencho, head of the brutal Jalisco New Generation Cartel, but ignited nationwide mayhem. From burning highways to stranded tourists in Puerto Vallarta, the cartel’s revenge has paralyzed key regions and raised alarms ahead of major events like the 2026 World Cup.
U.S. intelligence played a pivotal role in Sunday’s operation that claimed the lives of El Mencho and seven other cartel heavyweights, according to sources cited by The Washington Post. Mexico’s armed forces clashed fiercely, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides: over 25 security members and one bystander dead, dozens of cartel suspects killed or captured.
Retaliatory strikes were swift and savage. Armed convoys sealed roads across Mexico, dousing trucks and cars in gasoline before setting them ablaze. Thick black smoke blanketed skies over resort hubs, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. In glamorous Puerto Vallarta, panic spread among U.S. visitors. ‘Cartel guys told people to leave, then poured gas and waited before lighting it up,’ recounted one eyewitness to Fox News.
Airlines grounded flights from Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, prompting the U.S. State Department to activate emergency lines. Alerts warned Americans to shelter in place amid fading unrest, but confirm departures rigorously.
President Claudia Sheinbaum downplayed lingering disruptions on Monday, insisting normalcy was returning. Yet experts predict turmoil: El Mencho’s vacuum could fuel bloody succession wars within the CJNG, whose fentanyl pipelines reach deep into America.
This powerhouse syndicate dominates Mexico’s underworld, evading crackdowns despite government pledges. The raid’s success underscores U.S.-Mexico cooperation, but the cartel’s ferocious backlash reminds all of the high stakes in the war on drugs.