Mexico Erupts in Violence as Cartels Rampage After the Killing of Drug Boss, El Mencho; Americans Told to Shelter in Place

The Mexican army killed the boss of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho.

The cartel is not happy about the fact, and major parts of the country have erupted in violence, requiring citizens and tourists to shelter in place as terrorists blow up cars, set fires, destroy businesses, and generally act like activists in Minnesota when they are unhappy about something.

What's striking in particular about this series of attacks is how many major tourist areas are being targeted. My wife and I honeymooned in Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel is just a 20-minute drive away. It's clear that the cartel wants to impose a very high price for the Mexican government for impinging on their territory.

I have yet to see reports of actual murders, although the situation is highly chaotic, which is why I felt OK about making the Minnesota riot joke. Should reports surface of that significant an escalation, I apologize for my dark humor.

So far, it looks like the cartel is not trying to spark a war with the government, but rather to impose so high a price that it will be reluctant to take on the cartel.

Major events are unfolding in Jalisco state, Mexico:

Here’s what we know so far:

1.CJNG leader “El Mencho” Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes was reportedly killed in Jalisco during a military operation.

2.Some are reporting that it was a joint U.S. and Mexican Special Forces…
pic.twitter.com/S4JKSuN3vQ— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) February 22, 2026

Here’s what we know so far:
1.CJNG leader “El Mencho” Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes was reportedly killed in Jalisco during a military operation.
2.Some are reporting that it was a joint U.S. and Mexican Special Forces operation. (Not confirmed)
3.His reported elimination triggered immediate cartel retaliation across Jalisco.
4.CJNG members are kiIIing police, setting vehicles, buses, and structures on fire in multiple cities including Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara.
5.Armed gunmen are attacking areas around Guadalajara International Airport, causing panic and major disruption.
6.Road blockages and coordinated criminal activity spread across the region.
7.Air Canada temporarily suspends flights to and from Puerto Vallarta
8.The U.S. Embassy issued a security alert urging Americans to shelter in place in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León.
9.A NOTAM over Tapalpa, Jalisco restricting flights within a 10 NM radius up to 22,000 ft until February 23

We'll have to see whether there is random killing in order to judge how far the cartel wants to take things.

The CJNG are not military, but they have the training and equipment that enables them to conduct peer-level operations against the Mexican military. They’re former military and special forces units who went rogue and became cartel enforcers before forming their own cartel. pic.twitter.com/W1UNdbRKGf— Ian Miles Cheong (@ianmiles) February 22, 2026

Cartels in Northern Mexico are almost shadow governments, controlling vast swathes of the country, and now that they are entrenched, it is not really a law enforcement matter, but something closer to interstate conflict where the two sides are peers. Only one of the "peer" powers is much more ruthless than the other.

Mexico is a popular destination for Californians and I’ve only been twice because this is my greatest fear. The whole thing is held together by a “gentleman’s agreement” bw cartels and government. As you can see it only takes one incident to blow it up. Then you’re stranded https://t.co/Dc4jfK7i0y— Kira (@Kiradavis) February 22, 2026

The Mexican government is also riddled with corruption and cartel moles.

It's no surprise that the central government is afraid to disturb the balance of power; if push comes to shove, it means war.

UPDATE: The United States participated in the operation, providing support and intelligence. I would assume that we also pressured Mexico to take this opportunity when it came.

BREAKING: Mexico says that the U.S. assisted in the operation to capture El Mencho, leader of the CJNG, by providing information to Mexico's military and intelligence apparatus

El Mencho was reportedly captured during the operation but died while being transferred by air to…
pic.twitter.com/9K6wxb4Y4X— Ryan Saavedra (@RyanSaavedra) February 22, 2026

Híjole. Con estas mañanas de domingo no va a alcanzar con traer a #Shakira, el México vs. Portugal, es más, ni siquiera el Mundial, para tapar la ingobernabilidad.

Jalisco un infierno y todo el país ¿Y la presidenta? ¿Y Morena? Ya me acordé que protegen narcos #narcobloqueos pic.twitter.com/LoJ3BYM28u— Ricardo Salinas Pliego (@RicardSalinasP) February 22, 2026

Chaos erupts at Guadalajara International Airport in Jalisco, Mexico, as the CJNG Cartel launches attacks outside and potentially inside the airport, as retaliation for today’s successful elimination of CJNG leader El Mencho. pic.twitter.com/fspjMASWV1— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 22, 2026

🚨🇲🇽 Narcos are setting up blockades, shutting down roads and streets

In the video, armed men hijack a civilian’s car in Guadalajara, Mexico, just to torch it.

The cartels show no regard for innocent people.pic.twitter.com/Z7f1dsaBfx https://t.co/H7iSCTVClw— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 22, 2026

A good reminder that Mexico is a quasi narco state

Parts of it are under cartel control

And are always one assassination away from punctuating stability https://t.co/XQ3W27f2Lk— Shaun Maguire (@shaunmmaguire) February 22, 2026

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