Cartel squad: how the elimination of a drug lord plunged Mexico into chaos
Mexico is in the middle of a massive crisis. After the elimination of one of the most famous drug lords in the country, a series of violent clashes broke out between cartels and security forces. Riots swept through at least eight states, more than ten people died. Violence is spreading even to resort areas, where relative safety usually prevailed. Tourists from the Russian Federation are advised to exercise extreme caution. The operation against the leader of the largest cartel was carried out with the support of Washington — the American administration has repeatedly stated its intention to stop the traffic of one of the most dangerous drugs in the United States, fentanyl. About how local residents are fleeing the fighting on the streets of their cities and when to expect a new outbreak of violence in Mexico — in the Izvestia article.
What started the riots in Mexico?
A wave of violence broke out after the elimination of one of the most influential Mexican drug lords, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG) Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho. In fact, we are talking about a coordinated military action by CJNG militants against the state as an act of revenge.
In two days, riots swept through at least eight states, affecting both central regions and popular resort areas. According to preliminary data, the death toll has already exceeded ten people, dozens have been injured, and civilians are among the victims. Armed groups block key highways, hijack trucks and passenger buses, then set them on fire, ambush police patrols and National Guard units. As a result, the authorities were forced to deploy army units, and the maximum "red level" of threat was declared in the country.
This scale of opposition is explained by the "magnitude" of El Mencho in the local criminal hierarchy. Oseguera Cervantes, a former policeman, headed one of the most powerful criminal structures in the country for more than a decade. The US authorities offered $15 million for information that could lead to his capture. As a result, on February 22, an operation was carried out in the city of Tapalpa, Jalisco, to eliminate him (as later confirmed in Washington — with the assistance of the American special services). White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said that the United States provided intelligence support to the Mexican authorities, considering El Mencho as one of the key organizers of the supply of fentanyl to the American market.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum issued an appeal to the public, urging them to remain calm and follow the official messages of the authorities. According to her, the security forces are acting in a coordinated manner, and the situation is gradually being brought under control. At the same time, security sources do not rule out new outbreaks of violence in the coming days, especially in regions where the CJNG traditionally has a strong position. A source in the group, on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the wave of violence would not end, and the next stage, he said, could be an internal struggle for control of Jalisco structures.
Jalisco and the massive supply of fentanyl to the United States
What is happening fits into a familiar scenario for Mexico. Over the past two decades, almost every major operation against drug cartel leaders has been accompanied by a sharp escalation of unrest. The authorities often found themselves in a dilemma: on the one hand, the elimination of key figures weakens criminal structures, on the other — provokes, albeit a short-term, but extremely severe surge in violence. Washington's support strengthens Mexico City's capabilities in the fight against drug cartels, but it also raises the stakes, turning such operations into a trigger for large-scale retaliatory actions by the cartels.
According to Jeremy Kuzmarov, editor-in-chief of Covert Action magazine, the current escalation in Mexico has become a logical continuation of the long-failed "war on drugs." The expert notes that the military approach to combating drug cartels does not solve the root social problems, including the high level of social inequality and lack of opportunities for young people, and also does not reduce the domestic demand for illicit substances.
"Until these factors are eliminated, any operations against cartel leaders will only generate a new cycle of violence," he emphasizes in an interview with Izvestia.
Kuzmarov also draws attention to the fact that alternative measures, including drug legalization, could weaken the influence of criminal structures, but such topics in Mexico traditionally remain out of public discussion.
At the same time, Mexican society, tired of constant violence and instability, is generally inclined to support methods that can actually reduce crime, the expert adds.
The Jalisco New Generation cartel is considered the second largest in the country and one of the most aggressive. Founded in 2012 in the state of Jalisco, it has managed to expand its operations from the west to the east coast of Mexico in a few years. CJNG has relied on synthetic drugs, primarily fentanyl, by mass-producing and supplying them to the United States. Over time, the group expanded beyond the country's borders, taking control of routes through Pacific ports and expanding its presence in South America, Europe and Asia.
Meanwhile, the administration of Donald Trump is increasing pressure on Mexico in the fight against drug cartels, seeing the flow of fentanyl as one of the main threats to national security. This synthetic opioid kills tens of thousands of Americans every year. Key groups, including CJNG, produce and supply fentanyl across the border using, allegedly, Chinese precursors. This is, among other things, one of the stumbling blocks in relations between the United States and China.
Is there a danger for Russian tourists in Mexico
Against the background of the deteriorating situation, the Russian Embassy in Mexico has already issued a warning to the Russians. The diplomatic mission urged to refrain from traveling to the state of Jalisco because of the riots. Those who are already in the region are advised to take personal security measures, avoid crowded places and objects that may become targets for attacks. Izvestia sent a request to the embassy to clarify the details.
What is happening has already affected the residents of the "explosive" regions. Nikolai, a Russian resident in Guadalajara, told Izvestia that many locals stock up on water, food and basic necessities, trying not to go outside unless absolutely necessary. According to him, there have been outbreaks of violence in the city before, but the current situation is different in scale and geography — restrictions and alarms are felt in several areas of the metropolis at once.
Evgeny Ennikov, who is in Mexico City, told Izvestia about the situation on the ground. According to the Russian, he was lucky - he managed to leave Jalisco in time, where the "most violent situation" is now. In the capital, according to Ennikov, there are three times as many police on the streets as usual.
- As for Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta… They shoot, set cars on fire, people drive in cars, and they get thrown out. Molotov cocktails are being thrown into apartments," he said.
Of particular concern was the spread of unrest to tourist areas. In Puerto Vallarta— one of the main resorts on the Pacific Coast, armed groups on motorcycles blocked streets, set fire to vehicles, and thick plumes of smoke rose into the sky above the city. The airport was partially seized, which led to the cancellation of flights by several airlines at once. Similar incidents were recorded in Cancun, Tulum and on the island of Cozumel: highways were blocked, cars, shops and pharmacies were set on fire. At the same time, information about targeted attacks on hotels and resort complexes has not yet been received, but tourists are still advised not to leave the territory of hotels.
Against the background of what is happening, the tourism industry has not yet recorded a sharp outflow from Russians. Tourists are in no hurry to cancel trips to Mexico, despite the outbreak of violence, the Russian Union of Travel Industry reported.
According to Artur Abdyukhanov, the head of the PCT press service, there are currently no mass appeals to tour operators, cancellations of tours or requests for early return. The PCT also clarified that as of February 23, there are about 3.5–5 thousand Russian citizens in Mexico. The areas where the most serious collisions are recorded are not among the popular destinations among our fellow citizens.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
