Natalie Belluccia, a glamorous model who had been on holiday in Mexico before El Mencho’s death, has revealed she she locked in her hotel while chaos in the Jalisco state reigns
A glam model has described being “locked in her resort” in Mexico as cartel mobsters run riot outside.
Violent and chaotic scenes are currently being observed in Jalisco, Mexico following the death of drug kingpin ‘El Mencho’ on February 22. Nearly 70 people died after the military operation and ensuing bloodbath which led to the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartel leader’s death.
There has been huge backlash to El Mencho’s death, with the state now resembling something like Dante’s Seventh Circle of Hell. Holidaymakers across southwest Mexico are being advised to stay within their hotels following a spate of violent incidents triggered by the mobster’s death.
Videos shared on social media showed smoke rising over the tourist hotspot of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, with people running through the state capital’s airport in terror.
Model Natalie Belluccia, who was on a week-long holiday, had expected it to be relaxing, but instead she said it felt more like “war zone”.
Speaking on her social media account about the conflict, the model explained how she has been left under lockdown at her resort with no clear timeline for when she can safely leave.
“It’s not possible to get out right now … first of all, we are not allowed to leave the resort under any circumstances … so we are locked in the resort,” she explained of her situation, after she embarked on the family holiday before El Mencho’s death.
“Even if we went out on the streets, the cartel would stop us and force us out of the car and light the car on fire. So the whole city is in lockdown. Nobody is going out, everyone is scared.”
The model said she and her family had been scared during their time in Mexico.
“I hope that it ends soon … this is supposed to be a sanctuary where everything is peaceful, and now it’s a war zone.
“It’s still really smoky … my eyes burn when I go outside. I feel like more of a target now that we [US] are involved and I feel the cartel is a little angry that the US is involved. So I am scared I will be targeted more … I think we should have been warned, or a travel advisory to not travel to Mexico.”