A veteran-led rescue group was deployed as part of a “war-zone level” operation to get stranded Americans out of Mexico following widespread violence after the death of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel’s top boss.
Bryan Stern, the founder of the Grey Bull Rescue nonprofit, said teams were sent out on Monday as reports spread of violence across Jalisco and other Mexican states, Fox News reported.
As flights began to resume out of Jalisco on Tuesday, Stern warned Americans to stay indoors until it becomes truly safe to travel.
“If you’re in a location that is relatively safe, stay where you shelter in place and hunker down,” he advised. “It may be uncomfortable — but uncomfortable and safe is better than comfortable and dead.”
Grey Bull has conducted more than 800 rescue missions since 2021, evacuating more than 8,000 Americans and their allies out of active combat zones, according to the group’s website.
Many Americans are sheltering in place at Puerto Vallarta and other resort communities following the military operation that killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” on Sunday.
The death of Mexico’s top crime boss led the cartel to launch a vicious wave of retaliation across the country, with more than 70 deaths reported on Monday, including 25 members of the National Guard.
As Mexican forces crack down on the cartel violence, Stern likened the situation on the ground to war given the gangster’s vast resources that could rival a small military.
“What’s interesting about this war is that the enemy, the bad guys — these are not punk kids with face tattoos. The cartels are extremely organized, very well-resourced and very prepared,” Stern told Fox.
The cartel’s retaliation led to major American and Canadian airlines canceling flights in and out of the Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports.
Air Canada and Air Alaska are among those resuming flights on Tuesday after Mexican forces cleared more than 250 roadblocks set up by the cartel across 20 states.
Some 2,500 additional soldiers have been sent to western Mexico to deal with the cartel, with the US embassy maintaining a shelter in place for Americans staying in Jalisco, Baja and Nayarit.
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