Cartel boss "El Mencho" killed; Turkey urges its citizens to exercise caution in Mexico

Istanbul (ANTARA) - The Turkish Embassy in Mexico has urged its citizens to increase vigilance following federal security operations and unrest in several Mexican states.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the embassy said it was closely monitoring developments that unfolded on Sunday in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, Aguascalientes, and Zacatecas.

The embassy urged Turkish nationals to remain vigilant, take maximum security precautions, and comply with directives issued by local authorities. It also made an emergency hotline available should assistance be required.

Previously, Mexican federal security forces on Sunday (22 February) launched a military operation targeting the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in the city of Tapalpa, approximately 130 kilometres south of Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state. Reports indicated that the cartel’s leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” was killed during the operation.

In the aftermath, a number of roadblocks as well as the burning of vehicles and businesses were reported in Jalisco and several other states, believed to be retaliatory actions by the criminal organisation.

The Jalisco state government urged residents to remain at home, avoid using public transport, and activated a “red alert” status in response to threats to public safety.

In recent days, an escalation of violence has been reported across several regions of Mexico.

Source: Anadolu