Cartel Situation in Mexico Escalates, Sparking Violence

Unrest and conflict across Mexico has escalated further after the killing of a prominent cartel leader.

On Sunday, Mexican authorities killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," who served as the leader for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Originally part of the major Sinaloa Cartel, Cervantes broke away from the syndicate in 2009 and turned CJNG into Mexico's most powerful cartel group. The syndicate operates in almost every Mexican state– this is primarily due to Cervantes, who formed alliances with local cartels to extend his group's reach.

These cartels set up discreet manufacturing centers where they mass produce drugs in Mexico before distributing them across North and Central America, primarily the United States.

US President Donald Trump has attempted to crack down on drugs during his second term, placing tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China to force them to halt the fentanyl trade into the United States; those tariffs were later repealed by the Supreme Court, though.

In support of the Trump administration's efforts, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has begun a crackdown on drugs and cartels, and authorities are finally beginning to make progress. At least seven members of the cartel were killed in the initial operation, including Cervantes, and officials have arrested more than 70 cartel members and killed another 34 suspects.

However, critics have argued that killing leaders doesn't necessarily solve the problem– while destabilization of the organization impacts the drug trade, it also sparks local conflict. Now, unrest has erupted across Mexico, forcing Sheinbaum to deploy 10,000 members of the National Guard to handle the situation.

Armed forces related to the CJNG retaliated against the government in over 20 states, setting fire to buildings and cars. Hundreds of flights were canceled due to the violence, and tourists planning trips to coastal hotspots like Puerto Vallarta began to cancel reservations. Nevertheless, Sheinbaum asserted that they have restored order, and the initial response has now cooled off.

Certain states have been placed under travel advisories by the US government, so tourists should check these lists before traveling to Mexico. Tourist hotspots in Quintana Roo like Cancún, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen remain safe, alongside Cabo San Lucas in Baja California Sur and Mexico City. However, other states like Jalisco, Sinaloa, Michoacán, Guerrero, Zacatecas, and Tamaulipas should be avoided due to heavy cartel activity and increased violence.

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Image credit to Reuters