Sen. Mullin urges Americans to cancel spring break trips to Mexico amid cartel violence
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., urged Americans planning spring break trips to Mexico to cancel their plans amid recent violence tied to cartel activity, he said Tuesday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
Mullin cited violent clashes following the Mexican military’s operation against cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” The senator expressed concern over the safety of travelers, mentioning that his chiropractor was still planning to visit Cancún despite the unrest.
“No one should be going down there right now. It is very volatile, and the United States is focused on what’s happening,” Mullin said. His comments follow a Mexican military operation in Jalisco targeting El Mencho, the leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, a major supplier of fentanyl to the U.S., according to authorities.
Mexican authorities said the operation was conducted with U.S. intelligence support. After El Mencho’s reported death, cartel members set vehicles ablaze and blocked roads in several Mexican states. Authorities later reported that the security situation had been stabilized, and transit corridors and airports were reopening.
The U.S. State Department’s travel advisory for Mexico remains in effect, and the agency previously issued a shelter-in-place order for Americans in Mexico, which has since been lifted. Despite reopening efforts, some local security measures remain in place in Jalisco, and authorities continue working to ensure safety at transit hubs and tourist destinations, including Puerto Vallarta International Airport.
The Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación is considered Mexico’s most powerful cartel, with an estimated 19,000 members operating in 21 states. The U.S. designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization under the Trump administration.
Mullin said the recent targeting of El Mencho and other cartel members presents an opportunity for law enforcement to make progress in combating drug trafficking. “Can we get a handle on it again? Absolutely,” he said.
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