The embassies of the United States, Canada, Argentina, Germany, France, Poland and Russia warned their citizens in Mexico on Sunday, 22, about violence in several states in the country, following the death of the leader of the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel.
The United States embassy has asked its citizens to remain in their homes in several regions, including Jalisco, Baja California, Quintana Roo and areas of Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas.
Diplomatic personnel in Tijuana, Guerrero, Michoacán and Quintana Roo were also advised to remain at home and warned about the effects of the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG), on flights and suspension of transport services in Puerto Vallarta.
Canada declared itself “deeply alarmed” by the armed clashes and blockades in Jalisco and asked its citizens to avoid taking to the streets, especially in Puerto Vallarta, where confinement orders were issued. Airlines such as Air Canada have suspended flights to this destination.
Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recommended that its citizens carefully evaluate the need to travel to Jalisco and advised them to postpone “non-essential” travel.
Meanwhile, the German and French embassies urged their nationals to stay in safe locations, avoid crowds and strictly follow instructions from local authorities in case of unrest and lockdowns.
Poland has recommended its citizens in Jalisco and neighboring states to strictly follow the instructions of local authorities; and Russia called for postponing trips to Jalisco and limiting travel, while Ukraine called for calm, monitoring of official information and compliance with security recommendations.
The warnings came after a wave of roadblocks, burning vehicles and businesses, as well as clashes that occurred in at least a dozen states across the country, following the death of the CJNG leader in Jalisco.
Oseguera Cervantes was killed by military forces during an operation in Tapalpa, 130 kilometers south of Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco. El Mencho, 59 years old, was one of the most wanted criminals by Mexican and North American authorities, who offered up to 15 million dollars (around 12.7 million euros at current exchange rates) for information leading to his capture.
His death is one of the hardest blows dealt to drug trafficking since the arrest of the founders of the Sinaloa cartel, Joaquín Guzmán “El Chapo” and Ismael “Mayo” Zambada, detained in the United States.
The Oseguera cartel was formed in 2009 and has become one of the most violent drug trafficking groups in Mexico, according to the United States Department of Justice.
Washington classified the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel as a terrorist organization and accused the criminal organization of trafficking cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl.
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