Cartel Violence Disrupts Life for Tourists and Expats in Mexico Following ‘El Mencho’s’ Death
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – A wave of violence swept across several Mexican resort towns over the weekend following the death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, disrupting the lives of tourists and long-term expatriates.
U.S. Tourists and residents were advised to shelter in place on Sunday as suspected cartel members retaliated for the military operation that killed “El Mencho” and eight other cartel members. The violence included arson and highway blockades, impacting travel and daily life in popular destinations like Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Cozumel, and Tulum.
Craig Chamberlain, a resident of Newport Beach, California, who spends half the year in Puerto Vallarta, described encountering an armed man who attempted to carjack him and his wife on Sunday. “He was very hyped up and agitated,” Chamberlain said. “When someone’s waving a gun in your face, you don’t really want to talk back too much.”
The couple ultimately walked to a restaurant where they sheltered with approximately fifteen other people, witnessing fires erupt across the city from the terrace. “This mom was walking her little baby back and forth across the terrace, teaching her how to walk,” Chamberlain recalled, “and she’s giggling while there’s a car burning.”
By Monday, the situation had improved in many areas, with the U.S. Embassy and Consulates issuing an updated security alert. However, shelter-in-place recommendations remained in effect for Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Ciudad Guzmán, Tijuana, Chiapas, and Michoacán. Airports in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta had resumed operations, though travelers were advised to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.
Wesley Eure, an actor and writer from Palm Springs, California, who spends six months a year in Puerto Vallarta, described witnessing thick plumes of smoke rising over the city. He reported that a local pharmacy was burned and looted, and a bus explosion damaged nearby buildings, including his bank, and gym. His landlord advised him to remain in his apartment.
“All hell seemed to have broken loose here in Puerto Vallarta,” Eure told The Times.
Many tourists found themselves stranded. Katy Holloman, a makeup artist from El Dorado Hills, California, had her flight home canceled and was forced to rebook, only to have that flight also canceled. She shared her experience in a Facebook video, expressing hope for a safe return home.
Despite the chaos, some residents expressed a sense of calm. Elizabeth Shanahan, a California expat who has lived in Puerto Vallarta for two decades, noted that the violence appeared focused on vehicles and infrastructure, and that civilians were not being specifically targeted. “They’re not looking to hurt civilians,” she said. She added, “I feel safer here than I would in Minneapolis right now.”
Eure, after spending Sunday sheltering in his apartment, ventured out on Monday morning to find a sense of normalcy returning. He described a scene of neighbors chatting on stoops and people jogging along the Malecón, the city’s oceanfront boardwalk. “Everybody was like, ‘Everything’s okay, Don’t worry,’” he said.
While some businesses remained closed due to lack of transportation for employees, and charred vehicles and buildings remained as evidence of the previous day’s unrest, a sense of resilience prevailed. Eure recounted being invited to dinner by a friend, a testament to the strong community spirit in Puerto Vallarta. “This is a very tight community here,” he said. “I’m hoping things are going to get back to the way they were.”
