UPDATE: The Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”.
The Mexican Embassy in Washington said that the United States provided information for the military operation that resulted in El Mencho’s death.
“In addition to central military intelligence efforts, complementary information was provided by U.S. authorities within the framework of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the United States,” the embassy said in a post on X.
Multiple videos of violence and vehicle fires came from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on Sunday. Locals were advised to lock down amid federal operations in the municipality of Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexican daily El Financiero reported. The report added that criminal groups and cartel members had responded to the operation with blockades, arson attacks, and armed confrontations.
Governor activates red alert
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus confirmed the unrest shortly after the operation began, explaining that criminal cells reacted by burning vehicles and obstructing highways both in the southern region and in metropolitan zones.
“Federal forces carried out an operation in Tapalpa a few hours ago, which has led to clashes in the area. Also as a result of said operation, in various points of that region and in other parts of Jalisco, individuals have burned and blocked vehicles with the aim of hindering the actions of the authorities,” he wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.
“I have given the instruction to immediately establish the security coordination table with authorities from all three levels of government and to activate the red code in order to prevent acts against the population,” he added.
Where blockades and attacks erupted
Reports of cartel blockades quickly multiplied. In the Guadalajara metropolitan area, vehicles were set ablaze to stop traffic on Avenida 16 de Septiembre, La Paz, Periférico and Calzada Independencia.
Simultaneously, southern municipalities, including Tecolotlán, Tapalpa, Ojo de Agua, Linda Vista, Ayutla, Talpa, the Melaque junction, El Tuito and the highway toward Morelia, saw similar tactics.
The unrest even reached tourist centers. In Puerto Vallarta, public buses were torched downtown, motorcycle pursuits were reported, and a shootout erupted in Ixtapa.
Federal raid in Tapalpa
According to state officials, the violence was directly tied to a federal operation in Tapalpa, a well-known mountain destination in southern Jalisco. Authorities have not released details of the mission, but the governor noted in his message that the federal deployment prompted the cartel response.
The state’s Security Cabinet issued its own statement indicating that coordination with national forces was ongoing to contain the situation.
Links to other arrests
Hours before the Tapalpa raid, federal authorities had detained Alma Rosa “N,” known as “La Leona,” in the municipality of Tala. She is believed to be a CJNG recruiter allegedly tied to “El Lastra” and connected to the Rancho Izaguirre case. Her arrest is suspected to be one of several factors heightening tensions in the region.
