23.02.2026 15:07
After the death of the country's most wanted drug lord "El Mencho," cartel members set fire to the streets, hospitals, airports, and other public places everywhere. Footage recorded by a driver in motion shows cars, houses, and motorcycles engulfed in flames.
After the Mexican army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," on February 22, 2026, widespread chaos and conflicts erupted in the country.
El Mencho was one of the most wanted drug lords both domestically and in the U.S., and his death prompted cartel members to respond with severe retaliatory actions.
WIDESPREAD PANIC IS OCCURRING
The attacks by CJNG cartel members were not limited to blocking roads; panic erupted at Guadalajara International Airport, where passengers fled in panic while security forces intervened in some areas. Tourists and civilians sought refuge in safe areas in major centers, especially in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, in fear. Some flights were canceled for security reasons, leading to disruptions in air traffic.
VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES SET ON FIRE
Conflicts spread to numerous states; roads, bridges, and main streets were blocked by vehicles and barricades set on fire by cartel members, schools were temporarily closed in some areas, and citizens were urged to take shelter. While authorities took intense security measures to bring the situation under control, it was reported that the situation still poses a high risk nationwide.
Although the Mexican government stated that El Mencho's death would shake the leadership structure of the CJNG, the retaliatory actions of cartel members indicate a serious increase in the level of violence. Analysts emphasize that the risk of conflicts, especially with powerful structures like the CJNG, spilling over into civilian areas is higher than ever.