On Sunday, February 22, Mexican forces killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel’s leader, known as “El Mencho”, in the state of Jalisco.
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”, was the most wanted person in Mexico with rewards up to $15 million USD or $258,494,843.27 MXN for information about him. His cartel, abbreviated to CJNG, was formed in 2009 and “has grown into one of the most violent drug cartels in Mexico”, according to the U.S. Department of State. They are responsible for drug trafficking, murders, and more.
El Mencho was tracked to the town of Tapalapa, and Mexican security began surrounding the site. Al Jazeera reported that “Cartel gunmen opened fire as soldiers advanced. Security forces returned fire, killing several suspected CJNG members.” While being airlifted to a hospital, he died. El Mencho’s right-hand man responded with attacks, assaults, and roadblocks.
Cruelty unfurled across Mexico. Flights were cancelled, schools were suspended, and authorities ordered people to stay inside. Izzy Wang, a student at CdM, left on Friday, the 20th, two days before anything happened. “Nothing seemed unsafe while I was there,” she said. “I had no idea any of that was going to happen”. When asked about how she heard about the news and how she felt, Izzy responded with, “I first heard about it through the news, then later that day, I was flooded with texts from friends who were checking in on me.” “It was really shocking to find out,” she continued. “I felt devastated because it is such a beautiful place, and it was heartbreaking to think about something violent happening there.” Kirsten Raccucia, a woman living in Puerto Vallarta, said that from her rooftop, “The sky was black with smoke. No sirens. No normal high-season chaos in the streets below. Just thick plumes rising against the robin’s egg blue sky and sapphire ocean that Vallarta is known for.” Vehicles were on fire and civilians were forced to shelter in place.
Is it okay now? Well, that depends on the area. If the spring break trip is booked to popular tourist spots like Los Cabos or Cancun, those spots are outside of the cartel’s footprint of violence. However, Puerto Vallarta and nearby spots are unsafe to visit. To decide if it’s okay to visit depends on where in Mexico, and research is essential to decide whether it’s safe or not.
