TERRIFYING footage reveals the scale of devastation unleashed by a Mexican cartel following the death of its notorious leader.
Panicked tourists were seen fleeing through Guadalajara airport as armed cartel gunmen stormed the terminal, firing shots and sending crowds scrambling for cover.
Across the city, cars were torched and thick plumes of smoke billowed into the sky, turning Guadalajara into a war zone.
Residents and visitors alike were urged to stay indoors as bursts of gunfire reverberated through the streets for hours.
The chaos erupted after Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes – better known as “El Mencho” – died in custody on Sunday.
The head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) had been captured by Mexican special forces in Tapalpa, Jalisco state.
Seriously wounded during a firefight between military commandos and his bodyguards, he succumbed to his injuries while being transported to Mexico City.
In the immediate aftermath, cartel members declared war on the Mexican government.
Violence has since spread across at least 20 of Mexico’s 31 states, as the country reels from the death of its most wanted man.
In Jalisco’s capital, Guadalajara, authorities have struggled to contain multiple gun battles, effectively shutting down the city.
Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro declared a code red, suspending public transport and cancelling mass events as security forces attempted to regain control.
The threat to life was so severe that the US, UK and Canadian governments all issued urgent travel warnings overnight, advising citizens to avoid Guadalajara and surrounding regions at all costs.
Those unable to leave were urged to remain indoors and seek safe shelter.
The turmoil comes at a particularly sensitive time.
Guadalajara – Mexico’s second-largest city – is due to host several FIFA World Cup matches in just a few months.
The tournament, which will take place across three countries, will see Mexico host 13 games in Mexico City, Monterrey and the now under-siege Guadalajara.
On June 18, Mexico will face Korea at the Estadio Guadalajara in what is expected to be a high-voltage encounter.
Colombia are due to play there on June 23, followed by a heavyweight clash between Uruguay and Spain on June 26.
Guadalajara is not scheduled to host matches beyond the group stage, with Mexico’s knockout fixtures set for Mexico City.
However, England are expected to play in the nation’s capital should they top their qualifying group in the US.
Unfortunately, the violence has not been confined to Jalisco.
It has surged up Mexico’s west coast, reaching as far as the US border with California.
At least 30 people have been confirmed dead – and officials fear the toll will rise further.
In Puerto Vallarta, just south of the US border, American citizens have been urged to remain indoors as cartel gunmen vent their fury on the normally idyllic resort town.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the drug kingpin’s death, President Claudia Sheinbaum appealed for calm.
“The most important thing right now is to guarantee peace and security for the entire population of all of Mexico,” she said.
“Today, there is already more calm, and there is government, there are armed forces, there is security cabinet, and there is a lot of coordination. Peace, security, and normalcy are being maintained in the country.”
Mexico’s Secretary of National Defence General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo also thanked the US for assisting in the operation that neutralised El Mencho.
According to the White House, the Trump Administration provided key intelligence support.
General Trejo confirmed the collaboration, saying: “We also benefited from US institutions and intelligence agencies, and this allowed us to dismantle the information networks of El Mencho and to proceed with the arrest operation.”
Despite those assurances, large swathes of the country remain on edge as security forces battle to prevent further bloodshed.
