A Dallas resident remains stranded in Puerto Vallarta after cartel violence erupted across western Mexico following the killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.”
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Mexican military forces killed Oseguera Cervantes during a coordinated operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco.
Following the operation, cartel members blocked roads, set vehicles on fire, and prompted authorities to urge civilians to stay indoors.
The U.S. Mission to Mexico issued a security alert advising American citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, parts of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León to “shelter in place until further notice” due to ongoing security operations and related criminal activity.
TJ Perry of Dallas traveled to Puerto Vallarta for a birthday trip and had planned to fly home Sunday. He told FOX 4 that flight notifications suddenly began showing delays and cancellations.
“We started receiving notifications of delayed flights all of a sudden, and basically everything was being put on a code red,” Perry said.
Hotel staff informed guests of escalating security concerns, he added.
“You could see smoke, kind of coming from the north area, all up in the sky. There’s been cars basically lit on fire in regards to the retaliation that the cartel is doing,” Perry said.
Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus activated a “code red” emergency protocol following the cartel leader’s death and suspended public transportation statewide.
Airlines including Southwest, Alaska Airlines, and Delta issued cancellations or travel waivers affecting Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Air Canada temporarily suspended operations at Puerto Vallarta International Airport.
Mexican authorities have deployed additional National Guard and Army forces to reinforce security across affected regions.
Perry said he and his group remain inside their hotel and have not received a timeline for when flights will resume.
“Puerto Vallarta is just a beautiful place,” he said. “So it’s just very sad to kind of see all of this happening.”