Drug cartels in Mexico unleashed chaos on American tourists after U.S.-backed forces killed top kingpin ‘El Mencho,’ stranding thousands and exposing the deadly fallout of open-border drug trafficking that President Trump is now vowing to crush.
Story Snapshot
- Mexican military, with U.S. assistance, killed CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (‘El Mencho’) in Tapalpa, sparking immediate cartel revenge attacks across Jalisco.
- Road blockades and arson led to at least 30 flight cancellations at Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports, stranding thousands of U.S., UK, and Canadian tourists.
- UK FCDO and U.S. Embassy issued urgent shelter-in-place orders, highlighting risks in popular resorts ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
- Experts warn kingpin takedowns like this often fuel more violence through power vacuums, underscoring the need for strong border security to combat fentanyl flows into America.
El Mencho’s Demise Triggers Cartel Retaliation
Mexican federal forces conducted a raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco, prior to February 22, 2026, killing CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho.’ U.S. intelligence assistance enabled the operation against the fentanyl kingpin, who evaded capture for over a decade despite a $10 million bounty. CJNG, Mexico’s most violent cartel since splintering from the Milenio group around 2010, controls key drug routes poisoning American communities. This high-profile hit differs from routine violence by provoking swift, widespread retaliation in tourist areas.
Puerto Vallarta Airport (X): All international/domestic flights canceled February 22; safe under National Guard
Flights Grounded, Tourists Stranded in Jalisco
On February 22, 2026, CJNG fighters erected road blockades and set fires across Jalisco, including Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, halting traffic and triggering airport shutdowns. Puerto Vallarta authorities ordered residents and visitors to stay indoors as at least 30 flights faced cancellation or diversion. Airlines like Air Canada suspended operations, leaving thousands of American, British, and Canadian tourists trapped in resorts. National Guard troops secured airport facilities, but violence disrupted highways without directly targeting terminals. Cancun resorts remained unaffected, sparing Caribbean tourism.
Global Embassies Sound Alarm on Cartel Violence
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office issued an urgent warning for Jalisco travelers to remain indoors amid escalating threats. The U.S. Embassy expanded shelter-in-place orders to Jalisco and four other states, advising avoidance of law enforcement areas. Canada, Australia, and India echoed similar alerts as of February 23. These multinational responses underscore the peril to Western tourists in cartel strongholds, where prior FCDO advisories already cautioned against non-essential travel due to crossfire risks. President Trump’s border policies aim to dismantle such networks fueling U.S. opioid deaths.
Air Canada (X): Suspended ops; monitor aircanada.com
Long-Term Risks to Tourism and U.S. Security
Short-term chaos stranded vacationers and hammered local economies reliant on Puerto Vallarta tourism, a key revenue source now threatened before the 2026 World Cup in Guadalajara host areas. Experts like Acled’s Sandra Pellegrini note highway blockades signal cartel mobilization, with leadership kills rarely curbing violence long-term but igniting factional wars and power vacuums. This instability validates conservative calls for robust U.S.-Mexico cooperation against cartels, as seen in the Tapalpa raid, to protect American lives from fentanyl and travel dangers.
Sources:
Mexico: UK Foreign Office issues urgent warning as flights are cancelled due to drug cartel violence
Mexico News Daily (multi-embassy alerts)
UK FCDO Mexico safety and security
