{"id":493364,"date":"2026-02-23T04:21:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T04:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/493364\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T04:21:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T04:21:08","slug":"calgary-area-family-stranded-in-puerto-vallarta-compound-amid-cartel-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/493364\/","title":{"rendered":"Calgary-area family stranded in Puerto Vallarta compound amid cartel violence"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Calgary business owner and his family, stranded in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico amid cartel violence, aren\u2019t sure when they\u2019ll be able to leave the country.<\/p>\n

Explosions and vehicle and heavy equipment barricades burned in the early hours in the Mexican city, which is a popular vacation spot for Alberta tourists. Following the Family Day weekend, many school divisions had breaks, leading many to seek sun destinations. <\/p>\n

According to Global Affairs Canada<\/a>, there are dozens of Mexican states embroiled in violence involving \u201ccriminal groups\u201d that have set up roadblocks with burning vehicles.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been shootouts with security forces and explosions. There are significant disruptions to travel and transportation, including flight delays and cancellations,\u201d read a statement on the Global Affairs website.<\/p>\n

\u201cA shelter-in-place order is in effect in Puerto Vallarta. All taxi and rideshare services are suspended until further notice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Calgary business owner DT, whose full name isn\u2019t being used for safety purposes, is staying with eight others, including children, at a beachfront compound in Puerto Vallarta.<\/p>\n

He said the first explosions started in the area around 8 a.m. local time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first thought is always the safety of my family,\u201d he said in an interview over WhatsApp.<\/p>\n

DT said that the cartel has been broadcasting on Facebook Live. One of the warnings came early Sunday that informed people to get indoors and that anyone caught on the street would not be safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey blew up the Costco,\u201d he said. It was one he\u2019d been in just three days earlier.<\/p>\n

In a video he shared with LWC, it shows a typically busy highway completely free of traffic.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoats are having a hard time coming back into the marina. They won\u2019t let them back,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it\u2019s insane.\u201d<\/p>\n

DT said the cartel social media updates promised an escalation of the violence on Sunday evening. No further updates on the situation have been provided to LWC. <\/p>\n

CBC News has ongoing live updates<\/a> of what\u2019s happening across Mexico, as several different states are experiencing the violence, which is believed to have stemmed from the apparent killing of \u2018El Mencho\u2019, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was killed in a battle with military special forces.<\/p>\n

Possible flight out later this week<\/p>\n

DT and his family were all packed up early this morning, hoping to leave their compound by 10 a.m. to catch a flight Sunday afternoon and get back to their home just outside Calgary. That\u2019s all changed, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talked to WestJet and they said maybe February 26, but we don\u2019t know. It might be later if this stuff is still going on,\u201d DT said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were packed up and ready to go. Luckily, our flight was in the afternoon, as many people that went to the airport this morning were stranded and told to evacuate the airport.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to WestJet, they diverted seven flights enroute to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and cancelled another 37 flights to and from PVR, Guadalajara (GDL) and Manzanillo (ZLO).<\/p>\n

WestJet\u2019s flexible change policy has been implemented for guests.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs conditions evolve, additional cancellations may be required to ensure the safety of everyone in WestJet\u2019s world,\u201d read the WestJet update.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are advising all guests with imminent travel plans to Mexico check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.\u201d<\/p>\n

As of Sunday evening, Air Canada had no information in its news centre on the Mexico situation, except a February 17 release that it had increased capacity to the country.<\/p>\n

For now, it\u2019s a waiting game for DT and his party of nine. They\u2019re 11 floors up, and the gates are secured.\u00a0 For now, they have enough food and supplies, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe stores are closed,\u201d DT said.<\/p>\n

Liked it? Take a second to support Darren Krause on Patreon!<\/p>\n

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