Belgium's embassy in Mexico has advised travellers in Jalisco to avoid all non-essential journeys following the death of Nemesio Oseguera, a notorious drug lord and one of the country's most wanted men, known as 'El Mencho'.
El Mencho, aged 59, sustained critical injuries during a Mexican military operation on Sunday and died en route to Mexico City. He was considered one of the last prominent drug lords in the country, and the United States had offered a $15 million reward for his death.
Armed groups have blocked roads and set businesses ablaze in several states, including Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Puebla, and Sinaloa.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has addressed the nation on social media platform X, urging people to stay informed while maintaining calm amid escalating tensions.
Travellers are urged to follow updates via official channels, avoid non-essential travel, and contact emergency services or the embassy if needed. This advice will remain in place until normal traffic resumes.
The embassy also advises caution in neighbouring states.
Belgium's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already been discouraging non-essential travel to certain regions of Mexico, including Jalisco, due to ongoing instability.
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The United States has also advised its citizens in Mexico to seek shelter, including in popular tourist destinations such as Cancún, Guadalajara, and Oaxaca.
Airlines in the US and Canada cancelled flights to several Mexican locations on Sunday. American carriers – United, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines – along with Canadian airlines Air Canada and WestJet/Sunwing, suspended routes to cities like Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Manzanillo.
Some planes already en route to Mexico have been forced to turn back, highlighting the severity of the situation.
