Mexico Struggles to Contain Violent Fallout After El Mencho’s Death

Mexico is trying to steady itself after a violent shockwave ripped through twenty states in the wake of cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera’s death on Sunday. But the government’s message of calm is colliding head‑on with what people are seeing on the ground. President Claudia Sheinbaum insisted the country remained “at peace,” even as parents kept their children home because schools were closed, travelers found flights in and out of Puerto Vallarta suspended, and security forces flooded Jalisco after coordinated cartel attacks killed twenty‑five National Guard troops. Behind the scenes, officials revealed the dramatic operation that led to El Mencho’s final hours. According to authorities, special forces zeroed in on the elusive kingpin by tailing his girlfriend to a secluded mountain hideout near Tapalpa. When troops moved in, gunmen unleashed heavy fire, forcing soldiers to fight their way through the compound. El Mencho initially escaped into the forest, but search teams later found him wounded. He and two of his bodyguards died aboard a helicopter as troops attempted to fly them to Morelia for treatment. Inside the hideout, soldiers recovered a cache of high‑powered weapons, including rifles, rocket launchers and grenades. Earlier today, News Five spoke with Ambassador Oscar Arnold in Mexico City.

 

Oscar Arnold, Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico

“Yesterday, they carried out the operations. They surrounded the area where he was located and there was a firefight. He and four of his guards escaped into a wooded area and that is where the firefight ended, where he was injured and captured. Subsequent to that, as has been the history, whenever a high-level narco boss or don has been arrested or captured in the past, there’s always these spikes of violence, these outbursts of violence by his supporters and followers. So that’s what we saw yesterday in the areas of Jalisco, Michoacan, Guadalajara, Tamaulipas, Puerto Vallarta, which is in Jalisco. Nayarit, and I also think they mentioned northern sections of Yucatan, as well as some areas in Quintana Roo. We haven’t been able to confirm in Quintana Roo, but on the federal highway in Veracruz, as well, there were some blockages and some vehicles that were burnt.”

 

Mexico Steadies Nerves as Belize Issues Travel Alert

 

Mexican officials projected confidence today, saying the country is settling after days of cartel‑linked chaos. “No blockades,” President Claudia Sheinbaum announced, even as thousands more troops moved into Jalisco to brace for a possible power struggle after El Mencho’s death. New details also emerged about the raid that took him down. U.S. intelligence helped locate the cartel boss, but Mexico insists its own forces planned and carried out the operation. With the country on edge, Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla urged people to stay calm: “Mexico has solid institutions. Trust your government.” The fallout is reaching beyond Mexico’s borders. Belize has issued a travel advisory, warning citizens to be cautious when passing through the country. We spoke with Ambassador Oscar Arnold for what Belizeans need to know now.

 

Oscar Arnold, Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico

“We have quite a few students whom we’ve been in contact with since yesterday. We have quite a few students all over Mexico and we’ve been reassuring them and letting them know that insofar as the official information that we have and also information that we’ve gathered from credible local media houses in these different states that they should exercise some caution. They can attend school, go do their shopping and go back home, but try to stay off the street because you never know if they would be any individuals who would want to take advantage and say, “Oh, well we’re in support of this and it’s why we’re retaliating.” We haven’t seen it in Merida and in Quintana Roo as such. Another media house reported that the Plaza of the Americas and Walmart and Sam’s were closing down yesterday. I’ve been in contact with our honorary consuls in Merida, in Yucatan, in Quintana Roo, Chetumal and in Veracruz and the information that I have is directly from them on the ground and they are saying that everything is safe. Yes, you have to proceed with some precautions if you’re traveling the federal highways in some of the areas where there is some narco activity.”

 

And tonight, Belize’s ambassador says students and travelers in Mexico should stay alert but go about their routines as officials on the ground report conditions remain calm in key states.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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