Roadblocks, vehicle fires and travel disruptions spread after the operation in Jalisco.
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO — Mexican security forces reported Sunday that they killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the longtime leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco as violence flared in several regions and U.S. officials told Americans in affected areas to shelter in place.
The reported death of Oseguera, widely known by the nickname “El Mencho,” would mark one of Mexico’s biggest blows in years against a cartel blamed for trafficking fentanyl and other drugs and for mounting brazen attacks on authorities. Within hours, authorities and witnesses described burning vehicles, highway blockades and other disruptions, while U.S. consular officials warned that ongoing security operations and related unrest could put travelers and residents at risk.
Mexican officials said the confrontation unfolded Sun., Feb. 22, in and around Tapalpa, a mountain town south of Guadalajara that has been a tourism draw but also sits in a region long contested by criminal groups. The Defense Department said troops were carrying out an operation aimed at capturing Oseguera when gunfire erupted and the cartel leader was killed. Mexican authorities said at least six other suspected cartel members were killed during the clash and several weapons were seized. Three members of the military were reported injured. President Claudia Sheinbaum said the operation was a major action against organized crime and urged calm as security forces moved to prevent retaliatory attacks.
As news of the reported killing spread, the U.S. State Department and U.S. diplomatic officials in Mexico issued security alerts telling U.S. citizens in multiple areas to shelter in place until further notice. The advisories covered Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala and Guadalajara, and also warned of risks in Tamaulipas, including Reynosa and other municipalities, as well as areas of Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León. In later updates shared by U.S. officials and local reports, the warnings expanded to additional states as authorities tracked road closures and flareups. The alerts told Americans to avoid areas around law enforcement activity and crowds, and to expect disruptions to transportation and local services.
In Jalisco, state and local officials described a fast-moving wave of retaliation and disruption that followed the operation. Gov. Pablo Lemus Navarro said the state activated emergency protocols and ordered protective measures after reports of burning vehicles and improvised roadblocks on key routes. In Guadalajara, the region’s largest city, residents shared images of smoke columns and halted traffic on major roadways, while businesses in some areas closed early. Officials said some public events were canceled and in-person classes were suspended across parts of the state as authorities tried to keep people off the roads while security forces pursued suspects.
Authorities also reported damage to public and private property during the unrest. Mexico’s federal Security Cabinet said dozens of incidents were being reviewed, including attacks on state-owned bank branches in Jalisco. In briefings carried by local media, officials said about 20 state-owned banks were damaged during the wave of violence. The cabinet said roadblocks and vehicle fires were used to slow security forces and create panic, a tactic seen in past cartel crackdowns. Officials did not immediately provide a full accounting of arrests nationwide, but said patrols and checkpoints were being increased to reopen highways and restore normal movement.
The shock waves were felt quickly in tourist corridors that normally remain far from frontline cartel battles. Puerto Vallarta, a Pacific coast resort city in Jalisco that draws large numbers of U.S. and Canadian visitors, reported interruptions to transportation and uneven access to services as road conditions changed. Some airlines canceled or suspended flights, citing security conditions and operational uncertainty. In the United States, travel disruptions rippled into major airports, including San Francisco International Airport, where multiple inbound and outbound flights linked to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara were canceled. Travelers described hours of delays and shifting plans as airlines posted rolling updates and moved crews and aircraft.
Oseguera, 59, had been one of the most wanted fugitives in Mexico and the United States, where authorities had offered a multimillion-dollar reward for information leading to his arrest. Mexican and U.S. officials have described the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known by its Spanish initials CJNG, as one of the country’s most powerful criminal organizations, with routes that span Mexico, Central America and the United States. The group has been tied to shipments of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin, and it has built a reputation for quick mobilization and violent reprisals when leaders are threatened.
U.S. officials framed the reported death as a major strike against a cartel that has fueled overdose deaths and violence on both sides of the border. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said in a public statement that Oseguera’s reported killing was a significant development against a ruthless criminal figure. At the same time, analysts cautioned that the cartel is structured to survive leadership losses, with regional commanders able to keep trafficking moving even as power struggles play out. If Oseguera’s death is confirmed and consolidated by the government, experts said, the most immediate risk may be short-term retaliation and internal jockeying that can trigger further violence.
Mexican authorities have not yet laid out a detailed public timeline of what comes next in the investigation, including the handling of forensic confirmation and the identification of those killed alongside Oseguera. Security officials said operations would continue to locate remaining gunmen involved in the clash and to dismantle cells responsible for retaliatory attacks. In Jalisco, the governor’s office said emergency measures would be reviewed day by day, with officials focused on reopening blocked highways and restoring public transportation and school schedules when conditions allow. U.S. consular officials said security alerts would remain in effect until authorities determine that related criminal activity and road disruptions have eased.
In Guadalajara and nearby towns, residents described a day of uncertainty, with rumors traveling faster than official updates. “We could see the smoke and then everything stopped,” said a shop owner in the metro area who closed early as traffic backed up and people rushed to get home. In Puerto Vallarta, hotel staff said they were fielding questions from guests about road access and flight changes, while local drivers reported fewer trips as conditions shifted. The mood, residents said, was a familiar mix of fear and frustration in a region that has seen periodic surges of cartel violence followed by uneasy calm.
By Sunday evening, officials said security patrols were continuing in affected states and that authorities were working to clear roadblocks and assess damage. U.S. alerts remained active, and additional updates were expected as Mexican officials released more details about the operation and the scope of the unrest in the days ahead.
Author note: Last updated February 22, 2026.