The United States government has issued an urgent travel alert for Americans in several Mexican states after the reported killing of one of the country’s most powerful cartel leaders triggered violent unrest and major security operations.The US State Department warned that ongoing military and law enforcement operations, together with criminal activity and road blockages, are affecting parts of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León states. Americans in these areas were advised to shelter in place until further notice.The alert came after reports that Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as El Mencho, was killed in a Mexican military operation in Jalisco on Sunday. El Mencho was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the most violent and influential drug trafficking organisations in Mexico and abroad.Federal forces carried out the operation in the western state. After his death was reported, videos and eyewitness accounts showed burning vehicles, roadblocks and clashes between cartel members and security forces in several regions. Authorities said vehicles were set alight and highways were blocked in multiple states.In response to the growing insecurity, the US Embassy in Mexico City urged citizens to avoid areas near law enforcement activity, stay aware of their surroundings, seek shelter and minimise travel until the situation stabilises. The advisory also recommended that Americans follow local authorities’ instructions, avoid crowds, monitor local media for updates and keep in regular contact with family and friends.
Who was El Mencho?
59-year-old El Mencho had been one of the most wanted criminals in Mexico. The US government had offered rewards of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction. His cartel, CJNG, was designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the US government earlier this year amid concerns over its role in trafficking vast amounts of cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine into the United States.The killing of El Mencho has not been officially confirmed by Mexican authorities but was reported by media outlets citing government sources and federal officials. Despite the lack of immediate official statements, the violence that followed has been documented across several states, including Michoacán and Jalisco, where local governors declared emergency responses and urged residents to remain at home due to ongoing clashes.
