The Spanish Embassy in Mexico calls for “maximum caution” following the operation against the Jalisco Cartel

Eduardo González The Spanish Embassy in Mexico has recommended “exercising extreme caution” as a result of the military operation launched this Sunday by Mexican authorities against the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias ‘El Mencho,’ in the municipality of Tapalpa, in the state of Jalisco. The operation has resulted in at least 26 deaths, including security agents, civilians, and members of Mexico’s largest criminal organization, including ‘El Mencho’ himself. “The Embassy of Spain and the Spanish Consulates General in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey are closely monitoring the situation and are in contact with the affected Spaniards,” the Embassy wrote on social media early Monday morning, February 23 (Spanish time). “As a security measure,” the Embassy has recommended avoiding “border crossings between Mexico and the US at Reynosa (Tamaulipas State) and Tijuana (Baja California State), and exercising extreme caution.” “At this time, several areas of tension remain in the country, especially in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Nayarit, Colima, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, and Guanajuato,” it reported in another message. “It is advised to exercise extreme caution and follow the instructions of local authorities and the Ministry of Security,” it added. For its part, the Consulate General in Guadalajara has warned that insecurity persists in some areas of the state of Jalisco, with road closures and flight cancellations and reschedulings at airports, and that incidents have been reported in Aguascalientes, Colima, Nayarit, Zacatecas, and other Mexican states. “The recommendations to remain at home or in sheltered places and limit all non-essential travel remain in effect,” the Consulate continued in a message shared on social media. “Follow the instructions of Mexican authorities at all times,” it added. “We are closely monitoring the situation in Mexico at this time, especially within the consular district of Guadalajara,” stated Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares in Brussels. “I urge all Spaniards who are currently in Mexico, whether for tourism or business, and especially in the area within the consular district of Guadalajara, and who are therefore not registered with our consular registry, to contact the consulate,” he warned upon his arrival at the EU Foreign Affairs Council (EAC). “There are phone numbers listed on the website, both regular and emergency numbers, which are fully available precisely for situations like this. Some groups of Spaniards are experiencing mobility difficulties around airports or hotels, but we are in contact with them and trying to resolve their situation as quickly as possible,” he assured.

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