Videos have emerged online showing people running for their lives out of Guadalajara Airport in Mexico as alleged members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel have reportedly entered with guns
An airport has been gripped with fear after alleged members of a cartel have reportedly entered as video footage shows people running from the building. Unconfirmed reports believe members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel entered Guadalajara International Airport in Jalisco, Mexico just hours after their leader El Mencho was killed by military.
It is believed members are now retaliating following news of the killing. Violent scenes have appeared across the area as the Mexican army conducted a major operation in Mexico, which resulted in El Mencho, real name Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, El Mencho’s death today (February 22).
However, several videos have now appeared online showing several armed men, reportedly from the cartel, entering the airport while firing their weapons. It is currently unknown if any one has been injured in the horror scenes.
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Some airlines have reportedly told passengers to stay away from the airport for their own safety. The airport incident comes after vehicle fires, road blockades, and damage to commercial establishments sparked chaos across the state.
Videos on social media show people running with some falling as the gunmen were seen walking behind them. Other footage shows airport crew allowing passengers to come behind check in desk for their safety.
Dozens of people were seen crouched down in between desks and the conveyer belt for luggage. Alarms were also heard on the runway side as staff were seen running with what appears to be passengers being let out of the terminal for safety.
It is unknown if there are any injuries despite gunshots being heard. According to AirLive, federal forces and the National Guard have been deployed to the airport in what has been described as “extremely volatile” situation.
A message has now been put out attributed to the CJNG warning residents. The message currently circulating social media warns residents of Guadalajara and surrounding areas to stay home.
The warning continues to tell locals that they will target anyone found on the streets starting from 2:00pm. The message has not been officially verified but chaos in the area is increasing.
Videos circulating social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the city of Puerto Vallarta, a major city in Jalisco, and sprinting through the airport of the state’s capital in panic. Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to Puerto Vallarta “due to an ongoing security situation” and advised customers not to go to their airport.
US State Department has now urged US nationals to shelter-in-place in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, and Michoacan. In a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), it said: “Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the following locations should shelter in place until further notice: Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (including Reynosa and other municipalities), areas of Michoacan State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo Leon State.”
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers the CJNG to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico’s most infamous criminal groups, with a presence in all 50 US states where it distributes tons of drugs. It is one of the main suppliers of cocaine to the US market and, like the Sinaloa cartel, earns billions from the production of fentanyl and methamphetamines.
The Mexican Secretariat of National Defensesays has since informed that four Jalisco New Generation Cartel members have been killed, including leader “El Mencho”. Moreover, three servicemembers have reportedly been injured during operation in cooperation with US in Tapalpa, Jalisco:
Reporter Dan Callejas wrote on X today (February 22): “URGENT The Mexican National Police ( @Defensamx1 ) reports on the operation to arrest Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, alias ” #ElMencho. ” It took place in Tapalpa, Jalisco.”
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