The aftermath of the fall of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias 'El Mencho', leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was still evident on Monday in the touristic areas of Jalisco. Photographers captured burned vehicles and completely charred establishments. The paradisiacal image of the blue sea next to a row of palm trees contrasts with the symbols of destruction from an operation that ended with one of the most wanted drug lords by the US.
Satellite images distributed by the company Vantor show the magnitude of the actions taken on Sunday, with the help of US Intelligence. The touristic streets of Puerto Vallarta turned black, but the boss was killed in the town of Tapalpa. It is there where the romantic encounter with his partner took place and where he was discovered.
Tapalpa, as explained by the Mexican newspaper 'Milenio', is a Magical Town. That is, a place of recognized tourist interest, which on Sunday saw 'El Mencho' fall. Its mayor, Antonio Morales, who has already spoken to several media outlets like CNN, described a day after the events that the situation was under control, although "a tense calm is felt".
"We are in constant communication with the state authority since we realized that this operation was taking place to coordinate and keep the population safe, asking them to remain calm and take shelter in their homes," he explained to CNN in Spanish. Morales pointed out that only two civilians were caught in the crossfire, resulting in injuries, and they are recovering.
Gunshots and helicopters were heard on Sunday in this remote place in the mountains of the state of Jalisco, where its citizens fear it may affect their livelihood, which is tourism. This is how María Dolores Aguirre expressed it to AP: "It will affect us because they are collateral damages".
Although Oseguera's downfall is a severe blow to drug trafficking, Mexicans fear the response that the CJNG may have, which to a greater or lesser extent has a presence in all 32 states of the country.
Fear also reached tourists in Puerto Vallarta, over 400 kilometers from the town of Tapalpa. Reporters' photographs show the parking lot of a shopping center with destroyed cars. Some foreigners were literally trapped as their flights were rescheduled. "There are many Americans trapped here," said 57-year-old Steve Perkins to the AP agency.
Until it is confirmed whether the Mexican Army will control the situation or if the cartel will respond to the death of its leader, the inhabitants of the state of Jalisco and the rest of the country are trying to return to normalcy. Some schools closed, and the Government announced, according to Afp, that mass events were suspended until further notice. On the other hand, most of the blockades seem to have ended.
The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, decided to confront the drug traffickers contrary to what her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, did, who adopted a policy of "Hugs, not bullets." Experts point out that this change in strategy is due to the pressure exerted by the US President, Donald Trump, who has deployed his 'Donroe Doctrine' in the 'backyard'.