The Mexican military recently conducted a bold operation that resulted in the death of the infamous Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader, El Mencho. In the raid, they confiscated heavy arsenal, including a rocket launcher capable of targeting aircraft.
Special forces also took control of armored vehicles and various weaponry typically more suited for battle than for law enforcement. This all took place while the resort city of Puerto Vallarta was under siege.
Support from the Mexican Air Force and National Guard was crucial during the search operation on Sunday, as reported by a news outlet.
The Mexican military led the effort, but there was also involvement from a U.S. military task force that specializes in intelligence. Prior to the operation in Tapalpa, U.S. intelligence documents were shared with the Mexican authorities—El Mencho had been a primary target for a while.
More than ten years after a cartel downed a Mexican military helicopter with a grenade, the rocket launcher was finally seized.
Previously, the CJNG cartel had weapons confiscated, and in June 2023, it was revealed that they had five rocket launchers in their possession.
A former police officer turned cartel leader, El Mencho was apprehended by Mexican special forces in Tapalpa, sustaining injuries in a resulting gunfight that also injured security personnel.
El Mencho had a notorious reputation for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the U.S., and there was a bounty of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest.
In the wake of El Mencho’s death, chaos erupted as cartel members reacted violently; barricading roads, setting fires to cars and businesses in retaliation for their leader’s passing.
Tourists in Puerto Vallarta received warnings to remain indoors. Attacks were also reported in several other states, including Michoacán and Guanajuato, as covered by local reports.
A Colorado resident trapped in Puerto Vallarta described the scene as looking like “the whole city was on fire.”
Another individual likened the city to a “demolition zone,” highlighting the overwhelming destruction.
A woman, known only as Priscilla, recounted witnessing cartel members burning a car in Tepic, expressing her distress as shelter-in-place orders left her unable to contact her son, who was nearby.
Major airlines, including United, American, and Air Canada, have halted flights to Puerto Vallarta, with many flights to Guadalajara also canceled.
Video footage showed fearful passengers fleeing from the Guadalajara airport.
Amid all this, there’s a sense of uncertainty regarding who will take over leadership within the cartel, as El Mencho’s control had been extensive, almost like a country’s dictator.
A security analyst raised concerns that this power void could lead to increased random violence among competing groups.
