Cartel Leader Killed—Chaos EXPLODES Into Streets

Fire burning on the street amid police presence.

America’s cherished tourist spots in Mexico have turned into cartel war zones, stranding U.S. citizens under shelter-in-place orders just months before the 2026 World Cup.

Story Snapshot

Mexican army kills El Mencho, CJNG cartel leader, with U.S. intelligence support in Jalisco operation.
Cartel retaliation blocks roads, burns vehicles, and disrupts airports in tourist hubs like Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara.
U.S. State Department orders Americans to shelter in place across multiple states amid escalating violence.
Trump administration’s prior terrorist designation of CJNG validated by this major blow to fentanyl traffickers.

El Mencho’s Demise Sparks Immediate Chaos

Mexican army forces killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, during an operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, on February 22, 2026. The raid also eliminated at least six cartel members. U.S. intelligence provided crucial support, fulfilling a $15 million bounty long sought by American authorities. Retaliatory violence exploded Sunday afternoon with cartel gunmen burning trucks to block roads in Jalisco, Michoacán, and Guanajuato. Armed groups fired at tires in Guadalajara, causing panic at the international airport as travelers fled.

Trump’s White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed U.S. intel aided the strike that killed El Mencho plus three others, wounded three, and captured two. This action underscores the administration’s resolve against cartels flooding America with fentanyl, a poison devastating families. Prior indictments since 2017 charged El Mencho with drug conspiracy, importation, and firearms trafficking under the Kingpin Statute. The CJNG, splintered from the Milenio Cartel around 2010, rose as Mexico’s most violent group under his brutal command.

U.S. Citizens Face Direct Threats in Tourist Havens

The U.S. State Department issued shelter-in-place alerts Sunday evening for Americans in Jalisco—including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara—Tamaulipas like Reynosa, plus Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León. Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau hailed El Mencho’s death as a great development against the bloodiest kingpin. Popular vacation spots now see stranded tourists, burned buildings, and cars ablaze. Airlines including Air Canada, United, Aeromexico, and American suspended flights by Monday, February 23. Schools closed across affected states as violence persisted into the day.

These disruptions hit just before the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Puerto Vallarta, a CJNG stronghold, draws countless American families yearly, yet recent U.S. sanctions targeted local timeshare scams linked to the cartel. President Trump’s designation of CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization last year proves prescient, enabling stronger U.S.-Mexico cooperation. This victory protects American lives from fentanyl but exposes vulnerabilities when cartels lash out in tourist zones.

Trump’s Anti-Cartel Success Amid Ongoing Risks

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm, claiming most areas remain normal, while U.S. officials advise avoiding law enforcement zones and monitoring updates. Roadblocks continue across states with no swift resolution. Long-term, El Mencho’s fall creates a CJNG power vacuum, potentially sparking infighting or heightened violence. Reduced fentanyl flows to the U.S. offer hope against the opioid crisis killing thousands of Americans yearly. Tourism economics suffer with resorts and aviation reeling from the chaos.

Conservatives applaud this strike as evidence that tough policies work against globalist leniency toward cartels under past regimes. Strengthened border security and intel sharing deliver results, safeguarding citizens abroad and at home. Yet the rapid retaliation reminds us cartels exploit weak governance, mirroring threats from unchecked illegal immigration. Americans must prioritize safety, supporting leaders who confront these narco-terrorists head-on without apology.