Mexico Launches Manhunt for 23 Inmates Escaped During Cartel Violence

Mexican authorities have launched a massive search operation for 23 inmates who escaped from a prison in the Pacific resort city of Puerto Vallarta. The breakout occurred on Sunday during a coordinated wave of attacks by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) following the death of their leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as "El Mencho."

According to state officials, armed cartel members used a vehicle to ram one of the prison gates, creating a breach that allowed the prisoners to flee. While the identities of the fugitives have not yet been released, Jalisco Security Secretary Juan Pablo Hernández confirmed that his office is collaborating with neighboring states to track down the escapees.The prison break was part of a larger retaliatory campaign that saw cartel members blockade roads and torch vehicles across several towns. In Puerto Vallarta, a major tourist destination, the violence forced residents and vacationers to seek shelter as black smoke filled the skyline. The unrest led to temporary flight cancellations and prompted at least two major cruise lines to bypass their scheduled stops at the resort.

The broader operation to capture El Mencho, and the subsequent violence, has claimed more than 70 lives, including 25 members of the National Guard. Although the federal government reported on Monday that most road blocks had been cleared, reports indicate that armed groups continue to vandalize shops and public buildings in Morelia, the birthplace of the late drug lord.El Mencho’s death marks the end of a long pursuit for Mexico’s most-wanted man. Under his command, the CJNG evolved into a transnational criminal powerhouse, becoming a primary source of fentanyl trafficking into the United States. The drug lord was eventually located in the town of Tapalpa by tracking a romantic partner and died shortly after his capture from injuries sustained during a fierce gunbattle with Mexican special forces.

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