Mexico travel warning: Puerto Vallarta erupts after El Mencho killing, scary videos go viral— List of cities to avoid

Mexico was gripped on Sunday by a wave of coordinated violence after the reported killing of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes. Widely known as “El Mencho”, he was the alleged leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). As dramatic images of burning buses and highway blockades emerged from Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, the United States issued an urgent travel warning advising its citizens to shelter in place across several Mexican states.

Authorities in the state of Jalisco have declared a statewide “Code Red” after a high-profile law enforcement operation in the town of Tapalpa during the early hours of Sunday. Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes was reported killed in the operation.

El Mencho was the head of the powerful CJNG, one of Mexico’s most formidable drug cartels.

The Mexican Embassy in Washington confirmed that United States authorities provided intelligence support during the military operation that culminated in El Mencho’s death.

“In addition to central military intelligence efforts, complementary information was provided by US authorities within the framework of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the United States,” the embassy said in a post on X.

The development marks a potentially pivotal moment in Mexico’s long-running confrontation with organised crime, yet the immediate aftermath has exposed the fragility of public security in key urban and tourist centres.

“Federal forces carried out an operation in Tapalpa a few hours ago, which has led to clashes in the area. Also as a result of said operation, in various points of that region and in other parts of Jalisco, individuals have burned and blocked vehicles with the aim of hindering the actions of the authorities,” he wrote on X.

“I have given the instruction to immediately establish the security coordination table with authorities from all three levels of government and to activate the red code in order to prevent acts against the population,” he added.

The state’s Security Cabinet later confirmed that coordination with national forces was ongoing to stabilise affected areas.

“I have given the instruction to immediately set up the security committee with authorities from all three levels of government and to activate the red code in order to prevent acts against the population.”

Roadblocks have been reported across the state capital, Guadalajara. All flights are being diverted from Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and Guadalajara (GDL) until further notice. Buses across the country have been cancelled.

In the Guadalajara metropolitan region, arson attacks and road obstructions paralysed major arteries, including Avenida 16 de Septiembre, La Paz, Periférico and Calzada Independencia. Vehicles were torched to impede traffic and obstruct security forces.

Southern municipalities — Tecolotlán, Ojo de Agua, Linda Vista, Ayutla, Talpa, the Melaque junction, El Tuito and routes toward Morelia — reported similar tactics, underscoring the geographic scale of the retaliation.

The US government warned of widespread operation going on in -Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Baja California State (including Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada), Quintana Roo State (including Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum), and areas of Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacan, Oaxaca, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas States.

“Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, US citizens in the named locations should shelter in place until further notice,” said the State Department in its security alert.

“All U.S. government staff at Consulate General Tijuana and all U.S. government staff in Guerrero, Michoacan, and Quintana Roo states have been directed to shelter in place. All U.S. government staff at Consulate General Monterrey have been directed to remain in the Monterrey metropolitan area,” it added.

Another update by the US government warned, “Roadblocks have impacted airline operations, with some domestic & int’l flights canceled in both Guadalajara & Puerto Vallarta”, adding, “Taxis/ride shares are suspended in Puerto Vallarta”

“Seek shelter”, the travel advisory said.

The advisory applies to:

It urged Canadians in Michoacan, Guerrero and Jalisco states to shelter in place, citing “shootouts with security forces and explosions.”

The cancelled games included the 7th round of the Clausura tournament of Mexico’s Liga MX professional football league, multiple women’s league matches and an

Security analysts suggest that this arrest, alongside the operation targeting El Mencho, may have intensified tensions within cartel networks, prompting swift and coordinated retaliation.