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In the picturesque mountain town of Tapalpa, nestled within Jalisco’s scenic terrain, Maria Dolores Aguirre’s family-operated shop has long thrived on the influx of tourists. This idyllic setting, known for its cobblestone streets, had been a magnet for visitors until a recent upheaval changed the landscape.
Chaos ensued as gunfire echoed and helicopters hovered above, marking the Mexican army’s successful operation against the nation’s most notorious drug kingpin, mere kilometers from Aguirre’s doorstep. This dramatic event has left her and her community facing uncertainty about the future.
At 50, Aguirre is anxious about the potential impact on her business and the transformation of towns across Jalisco. This concern is shared by many throughout the region, which stretches from its stunning Pacific beaches to Guadalajara, the vibrant city set to host FIFA World Cup matches in June 2026.
“It’s going to affect us. It’s collateral damage,” Aguirre expressed. “The government will need to ensure tight security. The world witnessed what occurred, and naturally, it might deter visitors from coming here.”
During her daily press briefing, President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed queries about the safety of the World Cup events in Jalisco. She confidently assured, “Every guarantee, every guarantee,” emphasizing that there is “no risk” for fans planning to attend the tournament.
Fighting between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and Mexican security forces raged on in a number of states Monday, fueling fears among many like Aguirre that there will be more violence to come.
More than 70 people died in the attempt to capture Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes and its aftermath, authorities said Monday. Known as “El Mencho,” he was the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the fastest-growing criminal networks in Mexico, known for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks against Mexican government officials.
The White House confirmed that the U.S. provided intelligence support to the operation to capture the cartel leader and applauded Mexico’s army for taking down a man who was one of the most wanted criminals in both countries. The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of “El Mencho.”
The death of Oseguera Cervantes came as Mexico’s government has stepped up its offensive against cartels in an effort to meet demands by U.S. President Donald Trump to crack down on criminal groups, threatening to impose more tariffs or take unilateral military action if the country does not show results.
Mexico hoped the death of one of the world’s biggest fentanyl traffickers would ease that pressure, but many people were anxious as they waited to see the powerful cartel’s reaction.
Oseguera Cervantes died after a shootout with the Mexican military on Sunday. Mexican Defense Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla said Monday that authorities had tracked one of his romantic partners to his hideout in Tapalpa. The cartel leader and two bodyguards fled into a wooded area where they were seriously wounded in a firefight. They were taken into custody and died on the way to Mexico City, Trevilla said.
In the aftermath, a sense of unease simmered in tourist towns.
The Pacific Ocean resort city of Puerto Vallarta also was hard hit by cartel reprisals, frightening tourists.
Steve Perkins, 57, was visiting Puerto Vallarta with his wife Gayle and some friends. They were on their hotel room’s terrace when explosions and black smoke started appearing around the city Sunday morning.
Their return to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was delayed when their flight was canceled Monday and they were rebooked for March 1.
Perkins and his wife have been taking annual trips to Puerto Vallarta since 2012 and have always felt safe, until now. He said they don’t plan on returning to Mexico.
“There’s a lot of Americans trapped here,” Perkins said.
Aguirre worked next to her son from the small neighborhood shop her family has owned for 50 years. The 15-year-old’s classes were canceled due to the violence.
Aguirre said it was unclear who exactly was in control of the area surrounding her: the military or the cartel. The other question on her mind was if this was just a one-off, or if there was more violence to come.
“We don’t know if these people (cartel leaders) are permanently here or not,” she said. “If they really did kill this leader, it could be that they fight between each other to win control or see who will lead it.”
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Associated Press writer Juan Lozano in Houston contributed to this report.
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