Mexico violence surges as Jalisco cartel power vacuum fuels infighting, ex-DEA agent says

Las Vegas (KSNV) — A surge of violence in Mexico is being blamed on a power vacuum at the top of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, with concerns that it could have ripple effects for Americans traveling there and for law enforcement in the United States.

Former DEA agent Dan Neill said the turmoil is creating an opening for others inside the cartel and for rival traffickers.

“It’s going to cause chaos right now, and that’s what you’re seeing,” Neill said. He said the violence “stems from a power vacuum at the top of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel,” adding that “for other leaders in that cartel, and for other drug traffickers, it’s an opportunity.”

Neill said internal jockeying for control could intensify the conflict.

“Now, those that are the number two or number three positions are going to want to move up, or your rival drug traffickers are going to want to try to take that over,” he said.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was described as the boss of a massive crime organization responsible for moving fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the U.S., and for ordering brazen attacks against government officials in Mexico.

Neill said he expects the situation to be resolved quickly, but still believes it could affect the United States.

“We’re talking, this is going to get resolved fairly quickly, but I think it’ll have a little bit of an impact on the United States,” he said.

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One potential impact could be on tourism, with Americans traveling to Mexico. Neill warned travelers could be at risk amid rival cartel violence.

“The biggest impact is those people traveling down to Mexico right now, you know, could be caught in the crossfire between some of this rival drug trafficking violence,” he said.

The U.S. Embassy and consulates in Mexico have issued a shelter-in-place advisory to Americans in popular destinations, including Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Tijuana, Cancun, and Cozumel.

On the U.S. side of the border, Neill said local law enforcement will be closely monitoring developments in Mexico and coordinating across agencies.

“I can guarantee you that they’re all working together and making sure that that intelligence is being shared with at the federal, state, and local level, and making sure the citizens there of Las Vegas are safe,” he said.