President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned there’s a “larger calm” in Mexico on Monday, a day after violence ignited within the nation following the killing of the drug lord referred to as “El Mencho.”
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the chief of the Jalisco New Technology Cartel, was killed in an operation led by Mexican authorities on Sunday in Jalisco, Mexican officers mentioned.
Widespread cartel-organized violence erupted following his dying, with autos set on fireplace, a whole bunch of street blockages and assaults on gasoline stations and companies, in keeping with Mexican authorities.
Muicipal police vehicles stay subsequent to a burning bus set on fireplace by organised crime teams in response to an operation in Jalisco to arrest a high-priority safety goal, in Zapopan, state of Jalisco, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026.
Ulises Ruiz/AFP through Getty Pictures
“At present there may be larger calm,” Sheinbaum mentioned throughout a press briefing Monday. “The general public can relaxation assured that peace, safety, and normalcy are being safeguarded throughout the nation.”
Sheinbaum mentioned that as of Monday morning, there are not any blockades and “regular exercise has largely been restored.”
Oseguera Cervantes was one of the vital needed criminals in each Mexico and america. He was one of many high traffickers of fentanyl into the U.S., and final 12 months President Donald Trump designated the Jalisco New Technology Cartel as a International Terrorist Group, the White Home mentioned.
When Mexican forces moved in to arrest him on Sunday, “El Mencho’s safety element opened fireplace,” Mexico’s Secretary of Nationwide Protection Ricardo Trevilla Trejo mentioned Monday.
El Mencho “fled the situation, forsaking a gaggle closely armed,” Trevilla mentioned. “The assault by organized crime members was extraordinarily violent.”
Mexican particular forces members continued to pursue El Mencho and ultimately have been capable of injure him and two of the bodyguards with him, in keeping with Trevilla.
El Mencho and the 2 bodyguards died throughout the helicopter evacuation flight that was heading in direction of a medical facility in Jalisco, Trevilla added.
Nationwide Guard members stand guard close to a burnt bus set on fireplace by organised crime teams in response to an operation in Jalisco to arrest a high-priority safety goal, within the state of Jalisco, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026.
Ulises Ruiz/AFP through Getty Pictures
Finally, 25 members of the Mexican Nationwide Guard and 30 cartel members have been killed in Jalisco, Mexican officers mentioned. 4 cartel members have been additionally killed in Michoacan, officers mentioned.
Amongst these killed was a “principal confidant” of El Mencho in Jalisco who was “coordinating street blockades, automobile burnings, and assaults on army and authorities services,” Trevilla mentioned.
Seventy cartel members have been detained throughout seven states, Mexican officers mentioned Monday.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico on Monday continued to induce Individuals in areas all through Mexico to shelter in place resulting from “ongoing safety operations and associated street blockages and legal exercise.”
“Whereas no airports have been closed, roadblocks have impacted airline operations, with most home and worldwide flights cancelled in each Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta,” the U.S. Embassy mentioned in a security alert. “All experience shares are suspended in Puerto Vallarta. Some companies have suspended operations.”
