Mexican naval and military forces have bolstered security throughout Jalisco state after an operation resulted in the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) known as “El Mencho.” The action prompted violent retaliation and heightened worries over the safety of numerous American and international tourists visiting the region.
In a February 24 statement, Mexico’s Secretariat of the Navy announced that personnel and tactical vehicles reached the primary tourist zone of Puerto Vallarta via the naval ship ARM “Usumacinta” (A-412) to strengthen surveillance and security efforts following assaults on businesses and properties in various neighborhoods.
Naval officials stated that extra personnel, aided by boats, aircraft, and ground vehicles, were dispatched to carry out patrols by sea, air, and land to assist in reestablishing order.
This naval deployment coincided with federal authorities sending approximately 2,000 additional soldiers to Jalisco in the wake of the cartel chief’s death, according to a Reuters report.
The death of El Mencho, long viewed as one of Mexico’s most formidable drug lords and the head of the CJNG, provoked an immediate backlash from cartel members. This included setting up roadblocks, burning vehicles, and confrontations in several states, as reported by the Associated Press.
While Mexican officials have portrayed the killing as a significant strike against organized crime, analysts warn that eliminating a cartel leader does not automatically lead to enduring peace.
David Mora, an analyst, noted that “federal authorities announced they are increasing troop deployments to manage the cartel’s reaction, which could be drawn out.”
Mora further said that “El Mencho did not designate a clear successor, and the remaining leadership may fight for control.” He cautioned that the cartel’s existing territorial conflicts with smaller factions, particularly in Guanajuato and Michoacán, might escalate as competitors look to gain ground.
Although the operation provided President Claudia Sheinbaum with “a win in relations with Washington,” Mora remarked, “it is very uncertain whether this killing will help the president’s overarching aim of bringing peace to Mexico.”
Duncan Wood, a visiting fellow, characterized the operation as a display of governmental power but cautioned that the long-term outcome may depend on the cartel’s internal organization.
“Taking down El Mencho constitutes a substantial demonstration of the Mexican state’s authority against one of the nation’s most brutal criminal groups. The subsequent disorder was genuine but short-lived,” Wood stated.
“Looking ahead, attention turns to the durability of the CJNG’s decentralized units and the Mexican government’s ability to maintain a full-scale security approach.”
In a February 24 post on the social media platform X, the Embassy of Mexico in the United States indicated that transportation routes were reopening, public services were resuming, airline schedules were normalizing, and Puerto Vallarta International Airport had resumed domestic flights.
The embassy added that certain local security protocols are still active and that officials are collaborating with international allies to safeguard transit centers and tourist areas.
It remains unclear whether the influx of military and naval personnel will avert a wider crisis, as authorities prepare for possible internal cartel conflicts and ongoing battles with opposing gangs.
Armando Regil Velasco and Reuters contributed to this report