Americans urged to ‘shelter in place’ after drug lord Nemesio Oseguera killed in raid by security forces

A man extinguishes a burning truck set on fire by organised crime groups in response to an operation in Jalisco to arrest a high-priority security target, at one of the main avenues in Zapopan, state of Jalisco, Mexico. Armed civilians blocked several roads. Photo / Ulises Ruiz, AFP

The US State Department is urging American citizens in Mexico to shelter in place amid violence, road blocks and flight cancellations after Mexican soldiers killed a top cartel boss.

“Due to ongoing, widespread security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity in many areas of Mexico, US citizens should shelter in place until further notice,” said the department’s Consular Affairs section on social media platform X.

“Roadblocks have impacted airline operations, with some domestic and international flights canceled in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta,” it said.

The unrest follows the death of powerful Mexican drug cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, who died today of wounds suffered in a raid by security forces, the Army said.

The head of the Jalisco New Generation cartel was wounded during the raid in the town of Tapalpa in Jalisco state and died while being flown to Mexico City, the Army said in a statement that confirmed news reports of his death.

He was one of the most wanted men in the country and in the United States.

Oseguera, whose nickname was ‘El Mencho’, had a US$15 million ($25m) bounty on his head.

He is one of the biggest drug suspects to be taken down since the capture of the founders of the Sinaloa cartel, Joaquin Guzman ‘El Chapo’ and Ismael Zambada. Both are serving time in the US.

Mexican newspapers El Universal and Reforma, and the Televisa network reported Oseguera’s death.

Earlier, people with guns set cars and trucks on fire in the western state of Jalisco, blocking several roads in response to a security operation taking place in the region.

This technique is used to thwart police trying to move in on a high-value target.

The violence spread to the neighbouring state of Michoacan, where Oseguera’s cartel also has a presence.

His cartel was formed in 2009 and became one of Mexico’s most violent drug trafficking organisations, according to the US Justice Department.

US officials formally classified it as a terrorist organisation and accuse the cartel of sending cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl from Mexico across the border into the US.

-Agence France-Presse