The death of one of the world’s most wanted drug traffickers has sparked an outbreak of bloody violence across Mexico with cartel members blocking hundreds of roads across the country in a brutal retaliation
A wave of brutal violence has engulfed two tourists hotspots in Mexico after the killing of drug lord El Mencho sparked unrest. The cities of Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta saw vehicles and businesses burnt out by cartel members in retaliation for his death.
Locals and tourists were forced to flee for cover amid the escalating violence in the country, which is set to co-host the Fifa World Cup later this year along with North American neighbours USA and Canada.
Here, your Daily Star gives you the essential information you need to know if you are in, or heading to, the country.
Which areas are affected?
More than 20 states saw shocking scenes of unrest as members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) launched a wave of revenge attacks after feared drug trafficker El Mencho, real name Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, was killed during a shoot-out.
Several Mexican states closed schools and urged residents to stay indoors as the unrest spread. The cartel’s home state of Jalisco was the worst affected, with 25 National Guard officers reported to have been killed in six separate assaults.
The state is home to beach resort Puerto Vallarta – popular with Brit tourists – and Guadalajara, which is set to host four World Cup matches in June. Localised unrest has been reported in Quintana Roo, home to popular tourist areas Cancun and Tulum.
What is happening in those areas?
Footage from Puerto Vallarta shows burnt vehicles and plumes of smoke rising above the city. American Yoni Pizer, who lives there, said he was attacked by gunmen, who hijacked and torched his car then used to barricade a road on Sunday.
He told CNN: “A young man came running with a gun pointed at our windshield to us, screaming get out of the car, get out of the car!” As he ran away, he said he heard explosions from the car and gunfire and said the men started dragging other drivers out of cars.
Fellow American Jerry Jones said he saw smoke “all the way across the city”. He told the BBC that “more than 30 vehicles” were burnt out in the car park of a nearby shop. Military helicopters were also seen flying over Puerto Vallarta as tourists watched from a pool.
Plumes of smoke were also seen across Guadalajara, where buses and cars were also burnt out by cartel members, while travellers at the city’s airport could be seen running and crouching on the floor after hearing gunshots ring out from a nearby highway.
Video also showed clashes between cartel members and Mexico’s National Guard in San Isidro, a town just north of Guadalajara. One video shows an armed person firing towards several cars. Other images show at least four bodies slumped by a car.
CCTV from a restaurant close to where the shooting happened shows a vehicle ramming a National Guard truck while cartel members shoot at it around 11am local time on Sunday. The National Guard has not released any details of the incident.
Is it safe to travel there?
Some airlines suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta after the outbreak of violence, leaving some tourists temporarily stranded. Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency said Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and Tepic airports had resumed normal operations on Sunday.
But the US State Department urged American nationals in parts of Mexico to “seek shelter and remain in residences or hotels” until further notice. And the British foreign office updated its travel advice for the states of Jalisco, Oaxaca and Quintana Roo.
The British government advised against all but essential travel to the state of Jalisco, guidance that was still in place on Tuesday. Its website reads: “If you are currently in Jalisco, minimise movements and follow any local shelter‑in‑place instructions.”
The security situation across the country is febrile and fast-moving and the Foreign Office said that incidents have been reported in other parts of Mexico and any tourists should “stay alert and follow local security advice.”
Air Canada said it would resume full operations to Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta on Tuesday from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Flights from Toronto to Guadalajara would resume on Wednesday, the airline said.
The Foreign Office still considers Quintana Roo a safe area to visit, with the usual precautions, as the Mexican government makes an extra effort to secure these destinations.
What has sparked the violence?
El Mencho, an ex-cop who had risen from rural poverty to become the world’s most feared trafficker, was killed by the Mexican army alongside at least six alleged accomplices during a botched operation to arrest him over the weekend.
Around 34 suspected criminals, a prison guard, a state prosecutor’s office worker and a woman, were killed in the violence that followed as his cartel unleashed a wave of violence retaliation in the western state of Jalisco.
The crime syndicate, set up in 2009, has emerged as the top drug cartel in the world, notorious for it ruthlessness, wealth and military-grade firepower. Within hours of its leader’s death, highways across more than half a dozen states were paralysed by burning trucks.
What are tourists saying?
Holiday resorts suddenly exist in the same sentence as gunfire and roadblocks. Andrea Oldereide, who has a holiday booked to Mexico later this year, told us she was she was worried about her upcoming trip.
She said: “I’ve spent years wishing I could travel to Mexico, but the ‘cartel noise’ always came as a loud concern. But last week, I finally took the leap, and my partner and I booked a holiday at Playa del Carmen, a coastal resort town in Mexico in the state of Quintana Roo.
“So many of my friends had experienced the turquoise water and white beaches of this gorgeous country. So, I was extremely excited to finally organise the trip.
“Then, news of CJNG’s leader getting killed and the subsequent chaos in the central American country broke the very next day (just my luck!). I haven’t received a warning from British Airways, or any other travel agency, for this holiday.
“While this trip is planned for November 2026, I can’t help but worry if the huge chunk of money I just spent will be for nothing. Hopefully by November, it will be safe to land in Cancun.”
For those currently there, the weekend was terrifying. And a US senator claimed Mexican cartels are targeting American tourists and warned “violent and terminal retribution” if any American is harmed in the country.
What does this mean for the World Cup?
Football journalist Miguel Delaney described the situation in Mexico as “jaw-dropping” and wrote on X that it “obviously raises maybe the biggest questions yet for the World Cup.”
Fifa, football’s global governing body, said it was “closely monitoring” the situation in Guadalajara after the World Cup city was plunged into chaos, but has not put in place any concrete plans to move games away from affected areas.
A spokesman said: “We will continue to follow the actions and directions from the different government agencies, aimed at maintaining public safety and restoring normalcy, and we reiterate our close collaboration with federal, state, and local authorities.”
Meanwhile, the Football Supporters’ Association has promised to do whatever it can to ensure England fans heading to the World Cup will be safe. England could face a last-16 showdown with Mexico in Mexico City.
The FSA said: “The excitement about the potential clash in Mexico City has been clear since the draw was made.
“We will also do everything possible, including working with host city representatives and FIFA, to provide supporters with the best advice before they travel, ensuring everyone has a safe and enjoyable trip.”
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