On Sunday, tourists in Puerto Vallarta, a beachfront city in Mexico, received warnings from officials urging them not to leave their resorts. This was due to potential “conflicts” following a federal operation in the area.
Images and videos circulating online showed plumes of black smoke rising and darkening the skyline of this coastal city in Jalisco state.
Visitors at local resorts reported to news sources that they were instructed to remain inside, although the reasons for the warning weren’t immediately clear.
In the afternoon, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for various regions in Mexico, urging American citizens to stay put until further notice because of “ongoing security operations, associated road closures, and crime.”
Part of this alert covered areas including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara in Jalisco, as well as municipalities in Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León.
According to a post by Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro, federal troops had conducted an operation in Tapalpa early on Sunday, which led to “conflicts” in the area. He noted that, following this operation, some individuals set vehicles ablaze and blocked roads in an effort to disrupt authority actions.
Navarro mentioned that there have been “escalated violent incidents” prompting law enforcement to adjust security measures for public safety, including implementing a “Code Red.”
Despite officials not releasing many details about the federal operation, local reports speculated that it might be connected to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and its prominent leader, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes.
Navarro emphasized the importance of staying safe and reiterated, “We recommend staying at home,” adding that conflicts have arisen across multiple federal agencies.
