The Foreign Desk Explainer 506: How did Mexico’s drug cartels bring the country to a standstill?
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Feb 25, 2026 A deep look at how the killing of a cartel boss triggered citywide shutdowns and tourists stranded in Puerto Vallarta. Coverage of troop deployments, airport and school closures, and worries ahead of the World Cup. Examination of the cartel's rise, its billion-dollar reach, heavy weaponry and drones. Discussion of why leader takedowns often spark more gang violence and political fallout.
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Serious Country Brought To A Standstill
- Mexico is a large, militarily capable country that was nevertheless brought to a standstill by cartel violence this week.
- Andrew Muller details shutdowns of schools, airports, businesses, curfews and trapped tourists, showing state capacity can be overwhelmed by organised crime.
The Talpa Raid That Sparked Mayhem
- A National Guard operation to seize El Mencho in Jalisco led to a ferocious shootout with heavy casualties including El Mencho himself.
- Andrew Muller recounts the operation in Talpa, where 25 National Guards and ~30 CJNG members died and one civilian was killed.
El Mencho's Violent Rise To Power
- El Mencho rose from deportation and prison to police service then to lead CJNG, exploiting a cartel split around 2009 to expand violently and lucratively.
- Muller notes CJNG revenues run into billions and the cartel uses extreme brutality to secure territory.