The raid, carried out by Mexican special forces in the town of Tapalpa, was supported with intelligence from a U.S.-military-led task force, senior officials said. El Mencho was wounded during the confrontation and later died while being airlifted to Mexico City.

El Mencho, 60, was one of the most wanted figures in the country and the head of one of Mexico’s most violent and far-reaching criminal networks, responsible for trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and other illicit drugs, as well as extortion, fuel theft, and other rackets. The United States had placed a bounty of up to $15 million on him.

The killing of the cartel boss set off widespread violence across multiple Mexican states as loyalists and other cartel gunmen launched retaliatory attacks. Vehicles were torched, highways were blocked with burning cars, and violent clashes were reported in Jalisco, Colima, Guanajuato, and other regions a pattern typical of cartel backlash following major strikes on leadership.

In Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination, dark smoke and scenes of unrest were widely shared on social media, prompting major airlines including Air Canada and Aeromexico to suspend flights to affected areas as travelers and residents were urged to stay safe.

Despite the unrest, officials reported no confirmed civilian deaths in the immediate aftermath, though several military personnel were injured and at least six cartel operatives were killed during the operation.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the raid as a significant blow to organized crime, while U.S. diplomats welcomed the operation as a key achievement in bilateral efforts to disrupt narcotics trafficking. However, security analysts warn that the power vacuum within the CJNG may lead to further violence as rival factions vie for control.