Mexican Resort Towns Burn As Special Forces Kill Jalisco New Generation Cartel Boss "El Mencho"

Mexican Resort Towns Burn As Special Forces Kill Jalisco New Generation Cartel Boss "El Mencho" Update (1656): Mexico's Ministry of Defense announced on X that a military operation targeting the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in the Tapalpa area resulted in the death of cartel leader Nemesio "Mencho" Oseguera. According to the statement, troops came under attack and returned fire "in defense of their integrity," leaving four CJNG members dead at the incident area and three others critically wounded. The ministry stated that those three later died during a medevac transfer to Mexico City, including Mencho. During this operation, military personnel were attacked, so in defense of their integrity they repelled the aggression, resulting in four members of the "CJNG" criminal group dead at the scene and three seriously injured, who lost their lives during their transfer via air to Mexico City; among the latter is Ruben "N" (a) Mencho, however, the corresponding authorities will handle the expert activities for their identification. The ministry also reported that CJNG members had armored vehicles and rocket launchers. In addition to the above, two other members of this criminal organization were detained and various weaponry and armored vehicles were seized, including rocket launchers capable of downing aircraft and destroying armored vehicles. The statement noted that National Guard and Mexican Army units were being deployed into the Jalisco area, where CJNG operates, to "reinforce security" amid retaliatory unrest this afternoon. Rubio realizing he’s going to have to be the new leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel pic.twitter.com/aBi0jNf7Ci — Nostra, House of Gold (@Nostre_damus) February 22, 2026 Will there be spillover risks?  *    *    *  Update (1510): "Due to developing security situations in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, airlines are canceling flights at those airports," website tracker Flightrader24 wrote on X. Due to developing security situations in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta airlines are canceling flights at those airports. Some flights remain inbound to Guadalajara at this time. https://t.co/cur1slMRld pic.twitter.com/fBFNjCI247 — Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) February 22, 2026 The situation in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and other areas controlled by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) remains fluid after Mexican security forces killed Nemesio "Mencho" Oseguera, the head of CJNG. NEW: 🇲🇽 Puerto Vallarta, is one of Mexico's top tourist destinations, welcoming a record-breaking 6.3 million visitors last year. Today, it's a war zone following the take out of the Mexican CJNG cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes by the military, reportedly assisted by… pic.twitter.com/Ib7P6XzD8z — Megatron (@Megatron_ron) February 22, 2026 En la zona turística de Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, se observan columnas de humo derivadas de los bloqueos y ataques perpetrados por el Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación, luego del abatimiento de Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho”. pic.twitter.com/sQToLtl0Ev — Raúl Brindis (@raulbrindis) February 22, 2026 The U.S. Embassy in Mexico has told Americans to "shelter in place" across Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (including Reynosa and other municipalities), parts of Michoacán State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo León State.  *    *    *  According to The Wall Street Journal, Mexican security forces killed Nemesio "Mencho" Oseguera, the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and assessed as one of Mexico's most powerful cartel leaders; footage on social media shows utter chaos unfolding across Guadalajara and other CJNG strongholds after Mencho's killing. WSJ cited a senior Mexican official earlier Sunday who confirmed Oseguera was killed during a military operation against CJNG. Additional color on CJNG from the outlet: The cartel also controls vast fuel smuggling schemes and other underworld rackets across Mexico and the U.S., authorities said. . . . Oseguera was known for sophisticated paramilitary tactics and the deployment of hundreds of well-equipped and well-trained gunmen. He controlled vast swathes of territory, especially in his home state of Jalisco. He has been expanding his influence and was locked in a bloody struggle for control of Michoacán state in western Mexico. Following the death of CJNG's leader, local media and X users have posted footage of chaos unfolding across the Guadalajara area, including reports of chaos at Guadalajara Airport and narco blockades spanning Guadalajara, Zapopan, Tlajomulco, Tapalpa, Puerto Vallarta, Ciudad Guzmán, and Autlán. Let's begin with the chaos at Guadalajara Airport: Passengers and staff seen fleeing from reported gunfire inside Guadalajara International Airport, as members of the CJNG Cartel attempt to storm the airport and several other nearby locations in the Mexican state of Jalisco. pic.twitter.com/LL2axKaYZF — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 22, 2026 Another video pic.twitter.com/0OXofzHrKB — Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) February 22, 2026 LIVE All flights to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico are diverting or returning due to smoke in the city following security incidents @wingbits pic.twitter.com/7xBFMEOXMr — AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) February 22, 2026 CJNG blockades across CJNG territories: Narco bloqueos en Guadalajara, en el Salto, López Mateos Sur, macro periférico. Toda la ciudad hecha un caos. pic.twitter.com/7NufE0Cjqc — Jorge García Orozco (@jorgegogdl) February 22, 2026 Narco bloqueos en Guadalajara, Zapopan, Tlajomulco, Tapalpa, Puerto Vallarta, Ciudad Guzmán y Autlán. Dominios del CJNG.#GuacamayaLeaks pic.twitter.com/PQHks2LGlR — Guacamaya Leaks (@GuacamayanLeaks) February 22, 2026 ⭕️ Reportan bloqueos del crimen organizado en tres estados con fuerte presencia del CJNG 🔹De manera simultánea, se registraron incendios de vehículos e invasiones a la vía pública en Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, la carretera Guadalajara-Colima, Uruapan (Michoacán) y Reynosa… pic.twitter.com/4MeQOpCDIV — Código Magenta (@CodigoMagentaMx) February 22, 2026 Footage from Puerto Vallarta.  #PuertoVallarta en estos momentos.#Vallarta #PV #Mexico #Jalisco Fotografía de Dron DS. pic.twitter.com/1WpTRNFBho — Nat (@Nurive87) February 22, 2026 Ahorita en Puerto Vallarta. No hay presencia de autoridad alguna, hora y media y nada. pic.twitter.com/wMCbsulL10 — Ricardo Badillo G (@Ricardo39687260) February 22, 2026 🚨🇲🇽 | #URGENTE Se registran balaceras en Puerto Vallarta atribuidas a un presunto enfrentamiento entre fuerzas federales y terroristas en medio de información que circula afirmando que Nemesio Oseguera, "El Mencho", líder del CJNG, fue abatido. pic.twitter.com/bQCiRBUpVP — La Derecha Diario México (@DerechaDiarioMX) February 22, 2026 Additional footage.  🚨 Atención en #Tapalpa: Un operativo federal desató balaceras en el municipio, principalmente en Tapalpa Country Club. Se reportan helicópteros sobrevolando la zona y bloqueos en los accesos desde Tlajomulco. 📹 @JCMunguiaA92 pic.twitter.com/ZzeRMcBQ0C — Telediario Guadalajara (@TelediarioGDL) February 22, 2026 Guadalajara is a World Cup Host City...  Jalisco is one of the Last Strongholds of the Mexican Opposition and a Center of Power for Several Criminal Groups pic.twitter.com/OkCirVsL0O — ✦✦✦ 𝙿𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚑𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚜 ✦✦✦ (@PamphletsY) February 22, 2026 The U.S. Embassy in Mexico has told all U.S. citizens in Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (including Reynosa and other municipalities), parts of Michoacán State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo León State to "shelter in place" amid "ongoing security operations in multiple states and related road blockages and criminal activity." Locations: 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 Event: Due to ongoing security operations in multiple states and… pic.twitter.com/71gKVQ9ec1 — Embajada de EE.UU. en México (@USEmbassyMEX) February 22, 2026 *Developing... Tyler Durden Sun, 02/22/2026 - 16:56