Overview
- President Claudia Sheinbaum and federal security leaders confirmed a military operation in Tapalpa killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the CJNG.
- Authorities reported 252 cartel-linked blockades nationwide, including 65 in Jalisco, with vehicle burnings and attacks that left 62 dead, among them 25 National Guard members.
- The Army, Navy and National Guard were deployed widely, the Security Cabinet said roughly 83% of affected roads were reopened, and airport operations in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta continued normalizing.
- Jalisco’s governor lifted the “code red” and scheduled the full return to classes for Feb. 25 as arrests mounted, with the state prosecutor reporting 41 people detained for violence and looting.
- A riot at Puerto Vallarta’s regional prison enabled 23 escapes and left one staffer dead, while businesses in Guadalajara and coastal tourism hubs reported closures, shortages and cancellations as analysts warned CJNG could reconfigure rather than collapse.