Violence Breaks Out in Jalisco After Mexico’s Military Kills Cartel Leader

What Happened?

Mexico’s military and police launched a joint operation that killed ‘El Mencho,’ the leader of the New Jalisco Generation Cartel, this week.

In response, members of the New Jalisco Generation Cartel launched a number of attacks across Jalisco state, including Guadalajara International Airport and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico’s fourth largest tourist destination. A spate of shootings, arson, and other violent incidents erupted across Jalisco following the announcement of El Mencho’s death. 

Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, issued a statement confirming the violence in Jalisco but adding that in the rest of the country everything was still normal. 

Why it Matters

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel had grown to become Mexico’s most powerful in recent years, and the violence following El Mencho’s death illustrates how severe the cartel problem has become for Mexico.

Though the exact number of people affiliated with the cartel is unknown, Mexican and American authorities believe the cartel may have as many as seven thousand men under arms, which is larger than some of Mexico’s state police organizations. The now deceased leader of the cartel was himself a former police officer. 

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As of Monday, police and military units in Jalisco were still struggling to restore order, with businesses and schools closed throughout the area due to ongoing violence. Several reports indicated dozens of American tourists were stranded in the region since flights and bus services have temporarily stopped running.

Those tourists have been advised by the U.S. State Department to shelter in place and not leave their immediate location until the situation is brought back under control. No reports of American deaths have surfaced thus far, but it is likely the full extent of casualties will take days to determine. 

Mexico has been under increasing pressure from the Trump Administration to take more aggressive action against cartels, though it is unclear if the operation that killed El Mencho originated with American or Mexican authorities. Mexico’s government has given no indications the operation was planned or even suggested by the U.S. government, indicating it was probably a Mexican operation.

Cartel violence against tourists and tourist destinations is usually limited to robberies or kidnappings, with large-scale violent attacks like the ones taking place in Jalisco rare. This incident could become the deadliest such outbreak of cartel violence in Mexico’s history, and it is likely to create new political momentum in Mexico City to address cartel corruption. It will also probably lead to even more pressure by the Trump Administration on Mexico to take military action against cartels.

How it Affects You

Cartels in Mexico often have ties to police, military, and government agencies, which allows them to operate with a degree of impunity. Since the 1980s, when the drug trade to the United States increased to a multi-billion-dollar a year industry, corruption and cartel violence have plagued Mexico at both the federal and state levels. The incidents in Jalisco could spur a new round of action to battle corruption, but it could also threaten the integrity and stability of Mexico’s government.

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