‘Stay Indoors’: Indian Embassy Issues Advisory Amid Violence After Death of Mexican Cartel Leader El Mencho

The Embassy of India in Mexico on Monday issued an advisory to Indian nationals residing in the North American country, urging them to exercise caution and remain indoors amid escalating violence following the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, on Sunday.

"Dear all Indian nationals in Mexico: There are ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity. Indian nationals in Jalisco State (areas of Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (areas of Reynosa and other municipalities), areas of Michoacan State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo Leon State should shelter in place until further notice," the Embassy wrote in a post on X.

El Mencho, a former police officer, led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, which grew into Mexico’s most powerful organised crime syndicate over the past decade.

The cartel has also emerged as a major trafficker of illicit drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, into the United States.

How Did the Mexican Military Target CJNG Leader El Mencho in Tapalpa?

According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration, CJNG is one of the most powerful and ruthless criminal organisations in Mexico.

Security forces from several federal branches of Mexico's military carried out the operation in the town of Tapalpa in Jalisco.

CJNG members traded fire with government forces, resulting in four gang members being killed at the scene.

Oseguera and two others were seriously injured and died as they were being transported via aircraft to Mexico City.

Three Mexican military personnel were also injured and transferred to a hospital in Mexico City for treatment.

How Did El Mencho’s Death Trigger Widespread Violence in Jalisco and Other States?

The military operation triggered widespread violence across Jalisco, which is scheduled to host four matches of the 2026 World Cup in June, and spread to other states such as Michoacan and Guanajuato.

Suspected members of organised crime groups set buses on fire, blocked roads, and clashed with authorities.

Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro urged residents to remain in their homes and said public transportation services in the state would be suspended until the situation was under control.

"During the operation, residents are urged to stay home," Lemus said.

He added that the violence had spread to at least five states and cautioned the public against travelling on highways.

Videos going viral on social media showed plumes of smoke over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta, while people were seen running through the airport of the state capital in panic.

In Guadalajara, burning vehicles blocked roads.

Why Was El Mencho Wanted by US Authorities and What Charges Did He Face?

Oseguera was wanted by US authorities, who offered a bounty of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest.

The US Justice Department had charged El Mencho in 2022 with leading the effort to manufacture and distribute fentanyl for importation into the United States.

CJNG was designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the Trump administration in 2025. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau termed Oseguera’s killing as a "great development" for the US and Mexico, as well as the rest of Latin America.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said in an X post that the federal government was maintaining "absolute coordination" with state governments.

The military operation came amid a pressure campaign from the Trump administration on Sheinbaum’s government to intensify the crackdown on drug trafficking.

Threats of direct intervention by the US in Mexico were also part of Washington’s pressure tactics.

Under Oseguera’s leadership, CJNG evolved from a regional faction into a transnational trafficking network, known for heavy weaponry, military-style convoys, and public displays of violence intended to intimidate rivals and authorities.

While less globally recognised than the Sinaloa cartel once led by Joaquín El Chapo Guzmán, CJNG became synonymous in Mexico with brutal enforcement tactics and rapid territorial expansion.

Following the outbreak of chaos, the US State Department warned American citizens in several Mexican states to shelter in place. Canada also advised its citizens in Puerto Vallarta to keep a low profile and shelter in place.

(With inputs from ANI)