On Sunday morning, the Mexican military killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oceguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel.
After the tactical operation, El Mencho was dubbed one of Mexico’s most wanted fugitives, and the United States offered a $15 million reward to track him down because his gang was suspected of trafficking fentanyl and other drugs across the border.
Chaos erupted in tourist and surfing hotspots such as Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, after the crime boss’ death. See some scenarios below.
The United States and the Consulate in Mexico issued the following warning regarding X:
“Mexico: Due to ongoing security operations and associated road closures and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the following locations should shelter in place until further notice: Jalisco (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas (including Reynosa and other cities), Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon regions.”
Videos circulating on social media showed thick smoke billowing from the popular tourist beach town of Puerto Vallarta, burning vehicles acting as roadblocks and frantic workers and passengers running through the airport. Air Canada has canceled flights.
Incidents were also reported elsewhere in Mexico, including in Baja near the border. Baja Agave Expeditions shared images of burned-out cars and blocked roads, along with the following warning:
“If you are in Baja California or BCS, I strongly recommend that you do not travel today.
“I refuse to bury my head in the sand and pretend nothing happened and feel a responsibility to share this message with my audience.”
RELATED: Mark Zuckerberg’s $300M Superyacht Shows Up in ‘Mexico’s Surf Capital’
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemuz Navarro wrote:
“We advise everyone to stay at home until the situation is under control. We are fully coordinating with the federal government on their operations in Jalisco.”
Elmancho.
While not exactly a surf town per se and more of a cruise ship stop, Puerto Vallarta is located near many popular waves. There are attractions like Punta Mita and Sayulita in the north; then, in the south, there are a few other attractions worth exploring. For many traveling surfers, Puerto Vallarta is the starting point for their wave-catching journey in this part of Mexico.
This is a development story.
RELATED: U.S. issues travel warning for popular Mexican beach towns
This article was originally published by Surfer on February 23, 2026 and first appeared in the News section. Click here to add Surfer as a preferred source.