Mexico latest: Tourists told to shelter in place after killing of cartel drug lord El Mencho sparks violence

Inside nan cognition to termination Mexico’s astir powerful cartel leader

Here’s a much elaborate look astatine really Sunday’s events unfolded, successful what mightiness beryllium nan astir important rustle to organized crime successful Mexico since nan recapture of Joaquin “El Chapo’ Guzman a decade ago.

Joe Sommerlad23 February 2026 17:25

Recap: Who was El Mencho, nan ex-police serviceman turned cartel kingpin?

Here’s Alex Croft pinch a look astatine nan life and profession of nan infamous JNGC boss, whose decease yesterday successful a targeted cognition by Mexican Special Forces sparked a activity of retaliatory violence.

Joe Sommerlad23 February 2026 16:55

In pictures: Trail of demolition successful Mexico aft supplier lord slain

Joe Sommerlad23 February 2026 16:35

Burnt-out buses connected nan road to Mexico City

Travel writer and podcaster Mick Webb is presently successful nan metropolis of Puebla, trying to scope Mexico City successful clip for his British Airways formation connected Monday evening to London Heathrow.

He told The Independent: “I was enjoying my past vacation meal successful nan good metropolis of Puebla connected Sunday evening erstwhile news arrived from a friend successful Mexico astir nan wide chaos that had followed nan apprehension and decease of nan narco pack leader El Mencho.

“Several states person suspended flights, closed schools and warned group to enactment successful doors. At slightest 1 Ado intercity coach was burnt retired connected nan road to nan superior past night. But it is rumoured that buses to Mexico City are moving again... Official sources of online accusation are unavailable.

“If location are nary buses I suppose we will person to effort and get a cab astatine immense disbursal aliases miss our level this evening. What nosy travelling is.”

Joe Sommerlad23 February 2026 16:15

‘This is nan warfare we should beryllium fighting’: Conservative media characteristic calls connected Trump to travel to Mexico’s aid

Geraldo Rivera, formerly of Fox News, has called connected nan president to measurement successful and connection subject support to Claudia Sheinbaum, arguing that nan U.S. has a civilized responsibility fixed that it played an intelligence domiciled successful yesterday’s operation.

“It could go an existential situation for Mexico,” he warns. “This is nan warfare we should beryllium fighting – alongside Mexico against nan supplier cartels, not against Iran.”

Joe Sommerlad23 February 2026 15:55

Pregnant tourer successful 2nd trimester trapped successful Mexico aft cartel unit grounds flights

An expectant mother successful her 2nd trimester is among nan visitors trapped successful Mexico arsenic flights are grounded by a activity of cartel violence.

Canadian Meghan Mahoney, who has been connected picnic successful nan coastal edifice municipality of Puerto Vallarta, is 1 of thousands who person nary thought erstwhile they’ll beryllium capable to leave, and told CBC nan business was “scary.”

“We tin surely spot fume connected each sides… we're conscionable hoping that everybody stays safe and that we tin recreation location shortly.”

Here’s much from Craig Hoyle.

Joe Sommerlad23 February 2026 15:30

‘Dozens’ killed successful six retaliatory attacks, says official

Back astatine nan property convention astatine nan Palacio Nacional successful Mexico City, Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection Omar Garcia Harfuch has said that “dozens” of group were killed successful six “cowardly attacks against authorities” successful Jalisco yesterday.

“Twenty-five members of nan National Guard, 1 situation guard, and 1 from nan State Attorney General’s Office died,” he said.

Harfuch besides said that a female died and that “30 criminals besides mislaid their lives,” according to CNN.

Joe Sommerlad23 February 2026 15:10

‘Mexico must measurement up their effort connected Cartels and Drugs!’ says Trump

We person heard amazingly small from President Donald Trump truthful acold astir nan sidesplitting of El Mencho, contempt nan U.S. playing an intelligence domiciled successful yesterday’s cognition by nan Mexican military.

He has, however, said this connected Truth Social successful in a station different devoted to praising Fox News meal big Lawrence Jones:

“Great question and reply of American Patriot Derek Maltz, by awesome Fox & Friends big Lawrence Jones, who is terrific! Mexico must measurement up their effort connected Cartels and Drugs!”

He was referring to this question and reply by Jones pinch erstwhile acting Drug Enforcement Administration leader Derek Maltz:

Joe Sommerlad23 February 2026 14:50

El Mencho’s seizure was triggered by sojourn from romanticist partner, defense curate says

Sheinbaum’s defense secretary, General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, reveals astatine nan property convention that El Mencho’s location was discovered connected Friday done a friend of a romanticist partner of nan supplier lord, who was taken to a installation successful Tapalpa, Jalisco.

“On February 21, she near nan spot and accusation was obtained that El Mencho remained astatine nan location,” he said.

Trevilla adds that 2,500 “reinforcement troops” were dispatched past nighttime to thief support nan bid and adds that 8 cartel members were killed successful nan clashes pinch Mexican Special Forces agents

“It was genuinely a very convulsive onslaught by nan organized crime personnel,” he told reporters.

Joe Sommerlad23 February 2026 14:40

Mexican president says her state ‘is astatine peace, is calm’

Claudia Sheinbaum is presently delivering a property convention astir yesterday’s events and has moved to reassure nan public.

She says nan state is now “calm” and that nan roadworthy blocks were gone by this morning, adding that she expects flights to and from Puerto Vallarta to resume later today.

“The astir important point correct now is to guarantee bid and information for nan full organization of Mexico,” Sheinbaum declares.

Joe Sommerlad23 February 2026 14:30