Ultra-wealthy Americans were reportedly forced to flee by boat after the airport shut down and narco-terrorists established roadblocks across Jalisco state following the killing of cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.”
The chaos erupted after Mexican special forces carried out an early morning raid Sunday that left the notorious kingpin dead. Within hours, the region descended into turmoil. Vehicles were torched. Highways were blocked. Armed groups reportedly set up checkpoints. Tourists were locked down inside hotels as violence spread through Puerto Vallarta and beyond.
According to an insider who spoke to The California Post, a full-scale private evacuation effort quickly sprang into action.
“A lot of people make money getting people out,” the source said. “The main exit was a pipeline of people going on ferry rides from Puerto Vallarta across to Cabos and on private flights out.”
With commercial air travel cut off, wealthy visitors allegedly hired well-armed security teams or mercenaries to escort them through dangerous territory to the coast. From there, they chartered vessels bound for Los Cabos before arranging private flights back to the United States.
https://t.co/8oPAy1e2Kj Listen I wouldn’t return to Mexico if it was FREE. I would not risk my life in a narco state unless Trump installs major regime change and destroys the cartels. I still love Mexican Coke/Fanta in bottles
— Dave Rogoff (@RogoffDave) February 26, 2026
“Most of the clients did that,” the source explained, describing high-net-worth individuals with family ties, timeshares, or other connections in the area. “People are making a lot, it’s lucrative but dangerous.”
The extraction business, the insider added, has become increasingly formalized, with federal regulations governing armed security contractors. Still, the risks are significant. “If you get caught without documents or found with a gun and working outside the law, you’ll be in federal custody,” the source warned.
Images from the region showed burned-out buses, flaming vehicles, and heavy military presence in the streets. What had been a bustling tourist haven transformed almost overnight into what observers described as a war zone.
The insider described operations as “spicy,” noting that cartel roadblocks appeared suddenly across Jalisco. “There were two roadblocks, not the military, they’re not hiding, they’re out in force,” the source said, adding that cartel influence extends deep into local institutions.
Oseguera Cervantes was reportedly located after intelligence agencies tracked one of his romantic partners to a secluded compound in Tapalpa, a mountainous resort community. After the woman left, Mexican forces moved in, targeting the compound where El Mencho and his associates were allegedly holed up.
The aftermath has underscored the volatility that can erupt when powerful cartel leaders are removed. For vacationers expecting margaritas and ocean views, the week instead became a scramble for survival — with speedboats and private security replacing beachside relaxation.
