Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) recently advised those planning on enjoying spring break in Mexico to reconsider their trips due to escalating violence in the country. This unrest follows the recent killing of cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” by Mexican military forces.
During his appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Mullin mentioned how his chiropractor is still set on heading to Cancun. “Is anyone really planning on going to Mexico for spring break? My chiropractor called yesterday and said he’s still going. I told him, ‘Are you out of your mind?'” he remarked.
“No one should be traveling there at this time. It’s quite unstable, and the U.S. is closely monitoring the situation,” Mullin added.
The senator’s remarks came after a military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, aimed at catching El Mencho, a former police officer turned cartel leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which is seen as a major supplier of fentanyl to the United States.
El Mencho, who rose to prominence following the capture of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, has a hefty $15 million bounty on his head. Over the last 15 years, the New Jalisco Cartel has evolved from a local enterprise into a significant global trafficking organization.
Mexico’s military announced that the operation was conducted in coordination with U.S. authorities, who provided intelligence that aided in El Mencho’s demise. Following his death, violent reactions from cartel members included vehicle arson and road blockades across multiple states in Mexico.
Despite the chaos, Mexican officials later stated that the security situation had improved. The Mexican embassy in the U.S. reassured that “the security environment has stabilized” following the recent operations.
They specified that federal and state agencies are working to resume normal transportation and public services. Airline operations have normalized, with Puerto Vallarta International Airport reopening for domestic flights.
However, the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory for Mexico is still active. While a previous shelter-in-place order for Americans in Mexico has been revoked, caution is still advised.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is recognized as the most powerful cartel in Mexico, with an estimated 19,000 members full-scale operations across 21 of the 32 states.
The Trump administration designated this cartel as a foreign terrorist organization. Mullin expressed optimism about the current developments, suggesting that the cartel’s disarray presents a significant chance for both the U.S. and Mexico to tackle cartel issues more effectively.
“Sure, we won’t completely eliminate drug trafficking worldwide. But we can address it again, and we will,” he concluded.
