Pro Tip: Don’t Vacation in Mexico…Puerto Vallarta, Other Cities are War Zones After Cartel Leader Killed

Mexico has replaced low-level cartel violence with full-on cartel warfare against police and the military. It’s very much like Apocolypse Now for tourists stranded in their hotels and condos. The open warfare came about after the Mexican military finally took out Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes. He was the head honcho of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the more violent drug cartels south of the Rio Grande.

Mexican troops shot him and a number of his bodyguards in a raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco. Of course, some US intel plus a $15 million bounty didn’t hurt, along with President Trump leaning on Mexico’s corrupt political leadership to get tougher on drug smugglers.

Cartel loyalists didn’t respond with a sternly written letter. They sent their message in the form of burning cars, torched businesses, and highway blockades across at least eight Mexican states (Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Colima, Nayarit, Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas).

Puerto Vallarta—beloved by snowbirds, spring breakers and Canadians—turned into a ghost town overnight. Why?  Because smart folks aren’t leaving their hotel rooms. Flights are canceled en masse with people running from the airports for their lives. The U.S. embassy warned Americans to shelter in place.

Yes, foolish tourists—bless their margarita-soaked hearts. They fell for the “it’s safe here” message of a failed narco state and serious warnings from the American government on the hazards of vacationing in Mexico. One day you’re eating ceviche and guzzling tequila, the next you’re dodging roadblocks manned by heavily armed guys who really don’t like losing their boss. And hoping you or your family don’t become an “accidental” backstop for cartel bullets.

Here’s a guy who’s on the ground there.

BREAKING: The Situation Is Bad In Mexico Right Now…Pray For Us! pic.twitter.com/nBMOpRXFU4

— Dan Dicks (@DanDicksPFT) February 22, 2026

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

Here’s more from ZeroHedge:

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.