Puerto Vallarta woke up on Monday 'with great calm', though with visible consequences, especially for tourists, after the 'kidnapping' experienced during the violence on Sunday due to the death in a military operation of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). 'Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco) woke up with great calm, however, what draws much attention from tourists, of whom there are many Canadians and Americans right now, is the large number of vehicles that were set on fire and that are now charred on many main roadways,' local journalist Mauricio Lira Camacho told EFE. The communicator described the scene in the city, one of the most affected by the violence and marked by burned-out vehicles on key avenues and shopping center parking lots. 'There are still many urban buses that were taken yesterday, they were kidnapped and this morning are charred, as well as in shopping center parking lots, in one of them there are more than 50 charred vehicles,' he stated. The journalist emphasized the impact on the tourism sector, key for this Pacific Mexican destination, which received around five million tourists in 2025 alone. 'There is a lot of tension, concern, and fear among tourists because of what was experienced in Puerto Vallarta,' he affirmed. In the air space, he detailed that the airlines themselves suspended flights at the Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, and many passengers were stranded without public transportation or taxis. He lamented that on Sunday Puerto Vallarta 'was kidnapped' and the landscape was of a sky 'practically between gray and black' due to the large amount of smoke from the fires. No foreigners affected In turn, the Secretariat of Foreign Relations (SRE) stated in a statement that 'there are no reports of foreign nationals whose physical integrity has been affected' and asserted that they maintain communication with the consulates that have issued alerts, in order to provide them with any information that may be required. Oseguera Cervantes was killed during an operation in Tapalpa, 130 kilometers south of Guadalajara. 'El Mencho', 59 years old, was one of the most wanted criminals by Mexican and U.S. authorities. Washington accused him of leading a 'reign of terror' in Mexico and destroying 'countless lives' through fentanyl trafficking, and offered up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction. Under his command, the CJNG expanded its presence in Mexico and strengthened drug trafficking routes, including fentanyl to the United States, which placed him among the most wanted drug traffickers by both countries. (EFE)
