Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that order had been restored after a federal operation killed Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” the longtime leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, setting off retaliatory violence in several states.
At a news conference, Mexico Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said 25 National Guard members were killed in six clashes in Jalisco following Sunday’s raid. Authorities reported that 30 suspected cartel members were killed in Jalisco and four more in neighboring Michoacán.
The violence prompted more than 250 roadblocks across 20 states, officials said, and disrupted flights in parts of Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta. Sheinbaum said the roadblocks had been cleared by Monday and described conditions as calm.
Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said an additional 2,500 security personnel were being deployed to reinforce federal forces in Jalisco.
On Monday, Ron Sandidge, who formerly served in administrative roles in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, was vacationing in Tequila, a city of about 44,000 people in Jalisco.
Sandige said roughly half the businesses in the city were closed and that foot traffic was noticeably lighter than usual.
“Most of the people have resigned themselves over the years to this kind of thing happening occasionally,” he told the Pajaronian. “It passes from one region of the country to another. Right now this is Jalisco’s turn.”
Residents in several communities reported extended exchanges of gunfire. Authorities said cartel gunmen attacked a military outpost Sunday.
The killing of Oseguera comes amid longstanding pressure from U.S. officials for Mexico to intensify its efforts against drug trafficking organizations. Previous operations targeting high-level cartel leaders have often been followed by temporary spikes in violence.
U.S. officials said most Mexican airports were operating normally Monday, although some flights in Puerto Vallarta remained affected. Mexican authorities denied social media reports alleging attacks on civilians at Guadalajara’s airport and claims that U.S. tourists were being held hostage.
The U.S. Department of State currently lists six states as “Do Not Travel” destinations: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.
Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco and Morelos are listed as “Reconsider Travel.”
