College turned into canceled in numerous Mexican states and local and international governments alike warned their electorate to take care of internal, as frequent violence erupted following the navy’s killing of the highly effective leader of the Jalisco Smooth Expertise Cartel.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, acknowledged as “El Mencho” turned into the boss of one of the quickest-growing felony networks in Mexico, infamous for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks against govt officers who challenged it.
He turned into killed one day of a shoot-out in his home express of Jalisco because the Mexican armed forces tried to capture him. Cartel members spoke back with violence across the country, blocking off roads and setting fire to vehicles.
President Claudia Sheinbaum educated for peace
President Claudia Sheinbaum educated to take care of restful and authorities introduced slack on Sunday (February 22, 2026) that they had cleared a good deal of the extra than 250 cartel roadblocks across 20 states. The White Dwelling confirmed that the U.S. supplied intelligence improve to the operation to capture the cartel leader and applauded Mexico’s navy for taking down a one that turned into one of primarily the most wanted criminals in every countries.
Mexico hoped the loss of life of the realm’s biggest fentanyl traffickers would ease Trump administration tension to attain extra against the cartels, however many remained hunkered down and on edge as they waited to investigate cross-take a look at the highly effective cartel’s reaction.
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco express and Mexico’s 2d-preferrred city, turned into almost entirely shut down on Sunday as worried residents stayed home.
Passengers arriving to town’s global airport Sunday evening were educated it turned into operating with restricted personnel thanks to the burst of violence.
Jacinta Murcia, a 64-year-primitive nutrition products vendor, turned into amongst these nervously walking slack on Sunday evening thru the airport, the put earlier in the day travelers sprinted and ducked at the wait on of chairs fearing violence. Most flights into town were suspended on Sunday.
A forensic ambulance believed to be transporting the body of Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, acknowledged as “El Mencho,”leaves the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime (FEMDO), following a armed forces operation by which a govt provide said he turned into killed, in Mexico Metropolis, Mexico, on February 22, 2026.
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Reuters
Blockades and curfew in Mexico
Ms. Murcia anxiously scrolled thru data tales on social media showing the face of “El Mencho” and despatched messages to her kids, who were monitoring her method as she tried to walk across town to her home after darkish.
“My view nowadays leaving the airport is to investigate cross-take a look at if there are any taxis, however I’m frightened of the entire lot. That there are blockades, that there’s a curfew, that something would possibly per chance happen,” she said. “I’m all by myself.”
Authorities in Jalisco, Michoacan and Guanajuato reported a minimal of 14 other members killed on Sunday, in conjunction with seven Nationwide Guard troops.
Movies circulating on social media showed tourists in Puerto Vallarta walking on the beach with smoke rising in the distance.
In one other phase of the airport a neighborhood of elderly Mexicans gathered, discussing the becoming strategy to fetch home.
“We better all run together,” one said. “Run with God.”
U.S.- Mexico bilateral cooperation
David Mora, Mexico analyst for Worldwide Disaster Neighborhood, said the capture and outburst of violence marks a point of inflection in Ms. Sheinbaum’s push to crack down on cartels and help U.S. pressures.
U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded Mexico attain extra to fight the smuggling of the in general-lethal drug fentanyl, threatening to impose extra tariffs or steal unilateral armed forces circulate if the country does no longer display results.
There were early indicators that Mexico’s efforts were effectively obtained by the United States.
U.S. Amb. Ron Johnson acknowledged the success of the Mexican armed forces and their sacrifice in an announcement slack on Sunday (February 22, 2026). He added that “below the management of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bilateral cooperation has reached unprecedented ranges.”
But it would possibly per chance well also unbiased moreover pave the way in which for extra violence as rival felony groups steal unbiased correct thing referring to the blow dealt to the CJNG, Mr. Mora said.
“This would possibly per chance well also be a moment by which these other groups investigate cross-take a look at that the cartel is weakened and prefer to steal the chance for them to increase help a watch on and to fabricate help a watch on over Cartel Jalisco in these states,” he said.
“Ever since President Sheinbaum has been in strength, the navy has been way extra confrontational, combative against felony groups in Mexico,” Mr. Mora said. “Here is signaling to the U.S. that if we help cooperating, sharing intelligence, Mexico can attain it, we don’t want U.S. troops on Mexican soil.”
