PUERTO VALLARTA (Azat TV) – Widespread violence, including vehicle arsons, highway blockades, and armed confrontations, erupted across Mexico’s Jalisco state on Sunday, February 22, 2026, prompting Governor Pablo Lemus to activate a statewide “Code Red” alert. The unrest, which significantly impacted the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta, was a direct response by criminal groups, notably the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), to a high-profile federal law enforcement operation in the municipality of Tapalpa that reportedly resulted in the death of CJNG leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes.
The federal operation, details of which were not immediately released by authorities, triggered a coordinated and aggressive reaction from cartel members. Governor Lemus confirmed that criminal cells responded by burning vehicles and obstructing highways in both the southern region of Jalisco and its metropolitan zones, including the capital, Guadalajara.
Jalisco Cartel Response Shuts Down Puerto Vallarta
In Puerto Vallarta, the violence led to public buses being torched downtown, reports of motorcycle pursuits, and a shootout in the Ixtapa area. As a precaution, public transportation services in the Pacific resort city ceased operations, and hotels reportedly advised guests to remain indoors. Many businesses temporarily closed their doors amid the escalating tensions, while residents across Jalisco received informal warnings through neighborhood chat groups urging them to stay inside and avoid non-essential travel. Thick columns of black smoke were observed rising from various points in Puerto Vallarta, where more than 10 vehicles were reportedly set on fire.
The blockades and attacks were not confined to Puerto Vallarta. In the Guadalajara metropolitan area, vehicles were set ablaze on major arteries such as Avenida 16 de Septiembre, La Paz, Periférico, and Calzada Independencia. Southern municipalities, including Tecolotlán, Tapalpa, Ojo de Agua, Linda Vista, Ayutla, Talpa, the Melaque junction, El Tuito, and the highway toward Morelia, experienced similar tactics, according to Hindustan Times and Mexico News Daily. Governor Alfredo Bedolla of neighboring Michoacán also reported that 13 municipalities in his state were experiencing similar unrest.
Federal Operation Targets CJNG Leadership
The immediate trigger for Sunday’s widespread violence was the federal operation conducted in Tapalpa during the early hours of the day. While authorities remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the mission, Mexico News Daily reported that Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the formidable head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was reportedly killed during the operation. His reported death, if confirmed, marks a significant blow to one of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartels.
Hours before the Tapalpa raid, federal authorities had also detained Alma Rosa “N,” known as “La Leona,” in the municipality of Tala. She is believed to be a CJNG recruiter allegedly tied to “El Lastra” and connected to the Rancho Izaguirre case. Her arrest is suspected to be one of several factors contributing to the heightened tensions in the region leading up to the large-scale cartel response.
State and Federal Authorities Coordinate Response
Governor Lemus swiftly called for the immediate establishment of a security coordination table involving authorities from all three levels of government to address the crisis. He stated that the “red code” was activated to prevent further acts against the population. The state’s Security Cabinet issued its own statement, indicating ongoing coordination with national forces to contain the volatile situation, with security forces maintaining a visible presence across the state. However, detailed operational information from security forces remained limited throughout the day.
The coordinated and intense reaction by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel following the federal operation, particularly in major urban centers and tourist hubs like Puerto Vallarta, underscores the significant operational capacity and territorial control the organization maintains within Jalisco, especially if the reported death of its top leader, “El Mencho,” is confirmed.