US EditionLocals Visiting Mexico During Cartel Violence Share Their Stories
Violence erupted after cartel leader El Mencho's death, causing fires, explosions, and flight cancellations, leaving tourists stranded and local authorities imposing shelter-in-place orders.
- On Feb. 23, 2026, thousands of foreign tourists remained stranded in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco state, Mexico, after violence erupted following the death of Nemesio `"El Mencho"` Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
- Authorities and residents said the retaliation included 252 roadblocks across 20 states and burned vehicles in Puerto Vallarta and other Jalisco state resort zones.
- From hotel and condo complexes, witnesses said `there were a couple of locals who seemed to think that this was, not normal, but they were like 'Oh, we have an idea what this is,'` .
- The U.S. State Department and Canada advised shelter in place, while WestJet's flight-change policy remains until Feb. 27, officials said on Feb. 23.
- More than 26,000 Canadians registered with Global Affairs Canada as the disruption prompted market declines, with the peso and Mexican ETFs falling on Tuesday, officials said.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Chaos in Mexico: Cartel Violence Erupts After Drug Lord's Death
Holidaymakers expecting sunshine and seaside calm in western Mexico instead found themselves sheltering indoors as cartel violence erupted across several states following the death of one of the country's most powerful drug lords. The killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, triggered retaliatory attacks that disrupted cities, highways, and tourist hotspots alike. A Sudden Shift From…
Tourists Stranded in Mexico After Cartel Violence Erupts
Across Mexico’s coastal city of Puerto Vallarta, tourists came to understand the day by its sounds: an explosion, then another, then the rush of people running in from the street. Burned-out cars and roadblocks choked the main avenues as visitors pulled back into hotels and waited, stranded as airlines canceled flights and authorities warned travelers to shelter in place. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Read more: What to Know About the Operati…
Tourists Stranded as Cartel Violence Engulfs Mexico
Key Points — Thousands of foreign visitors remain stranded in Puerto Vallarta and across western Mexico after the killing of cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes triggered retaliatory violence in at least 20 states. — The U.S. and Canada issued shelter-in-place orders. Dozens of flights were canceled, roadblocks shut down highway access, and over […]
Locals Visiting Mexico during Cartel Violence Share their Stories
Locals visiting Mexico deal with flight delays following cartel violence SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) When a drug lord known as "El Mencho died in the town of Tapalpa, Mexico on Sunday during a mission to capture him, flight delays followed. Six members of the Santa Barbara Puerto Vallarta Sister Cities committee had just spent a week at the El Grullo Health Spa in the state of Jalisco about an hour away. The driver hired to take them to …
Former state representative recounts harrowing moments at gunpoint with Mexican cartel in Puerto Vallarta
Early Sunday morning, Jonathan “Yoni” Pizer was driving to a whale-watching excursion in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, enjoying his vacation from the Chicago winter in a place he's visited for decades. Pizer, his husband and two friends were driving when a vehicle in front of them made an abrupt U-turn, he said. They saw a truck parked in the intersection and a man with a gun running toward them.The man pointed his gun through the car window and yell…
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