A Mexican woman attempted to quietly move $272,000 across the Texas border and into Mexico, where authorities believe the massive cash load would have ended up in the hands of the cartels.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stopped a 46-year-old Mexican woman who was driving across the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge in Laredo, Texas, on her way into Mexico on April 21, the agency told The Daily Wire. The woman was referred for a routine inspection before officers scanned her 2017 Dodge Journey and discovered the unreported load of cash concealed in the floor of her car.
Officers quickly seized the cash and vehicle, while Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents arrested the driver, whose name was not released publicly.
Several Homeland Security sources working along the border told The Daily Wire that seizures of hidden bulk cash usually involve cartel funds.
Laredo Port Director Albert Flores said &#8220;bulk cash seizures like these&#8221; are &#8220;often proceeds from illicit activity&#8221; and &#8220;directly impact the pocketbook of foreign terror organizations.&#8221;
“Our frontline CBP officers continue to remain vigilant in the outbound environment and that attention to detail resulted in a significant outbound currency seizure,” Flores said.
Failing to declare currency totaling $10,000 or more while entering or leaving the United States is a federal offense, according to CBP. Concealing it with the intent of evading reporting requirements is also considered a crime.
In recent weeks, Laredo has become a hub for cartel smuggling.
This week, Border Patrol agents from across the southern and northern borders were asked to volunteer to help assist with a surge in illegal migrant &#8220;gotaways,&#8221; who attempt to evade law enforcement, in Laredo, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-hundreds-of-border-patrol-agents-reassigned-to-southern-border-as-gotaways-surge?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=EXCLUSIVE%3A+Agents+Pulled+Nationwide+As+%E2%80%98Gotaways%E2%80%99+Surge+In+Border+Town">The Daily Wire</a> first reported. As part of the effort, CBP hoped to recruit at least 200 Border Patrol agents to help catch the illegal border crossers in the region.
A CBP spokesperson recently told The Daily Wire that the Laredo sector of the border &#8220;is bordered entirely by river, with no natural barriers to slow illegal crossings, which makes it a target when smuggling routes shift and evolve.&#8221;
“Thanks to President Trump, we have the most secure border in American history,” the spokesperson said. “Thanks to record low crossings, we have the manpower and flexibility to move agents quickly, concentrate resources, and take enforcement action where it matters most.”
Border Patrol agents encountered roughly 1,400 illegal migrants in April, marking an 86% increase in crossings, according to internal Homeland Security data <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/border-coverage/200-border-texas-illegal-surge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> by NewsNation.

Untitled design – 2026-04-30T154341.028

Cartel Cash? Mexican Smuggler Nabbed Trying To Cross Border With Massive Haul

Border

Drug Cartels

Mexico

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Latin American leaders to Florida on Saturday to launch a new coalition against drug cartels, telling officials their countries had allowed gangs to seize territory and joking that he had no time to learn their languages.
Trump framed the effort as an aggressive campaign to confront drug cartels, citing them as a primary reason for ramping up U.S. involvement in Latin America, including a pressure campaign against Venezuela that culminated in the January capture of President Nicolas Maduro. At one point, Trump suggested the United States could use missiles against cartel leaders if partners requested it.
He also singled out Mexico as the center of cartel activity and predicted major political change in Cuba, saying the country was &#8220;very much at the end of the line&#8221; and repeating previous statements that Cuban officials are negotiating with him and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
At least a dozen leaders from Central America, South America and the Caribbean joined the &#8220;Shield of the Americas&#8221; summit, where Trump signed a proclamation launching the coalition.
&#8220;Leaders in this region have allowed large swaths of territory in the Western Hemisphere to come under the direct control of transnational gangs, and they&#8217;ve run areas of your country,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;We&#8217;re not gonna let that happen.&#8221;
In an opening speech that ran more than 30 minutes, Trump also touched on topics far beyond drug cartels, including Iran, Ukraine, Pakistan and India, political endorsements, Dominican sugar, building battleships, and the importance of interpreters.
Trump joked about language differences between himself and the mostly Spanish-speaking group of leaders. &#8220;I&#8217;m not learning your damn language,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have time.&#8221;
Rubio, a son of Cuban immigrants, later delivered brief remarks in English and Spanish, while Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth echoed Trump&#8217;s stance.
&#8220;I only speak American,&#8221; Hegseth joked.
Trump has pushed to build a coalition of regional partners around a more forceful approach to combating drug cartels and organized crime. Saturday&#8217;s event also gave him an opportunity to project strength closer to home as the war with Iran escalates and threatens to push up global oil and gas prices.
Earlier in the day, Trump said Iran would be &#8220;hit very hard&#8221; on Saturday and that he was considering widening the areas and groups of people targeted, without providing details.
Among those who attended the summit were Argentine President Javier Milei, Chile&#8217;s President-elect Jose Antonio Kast and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, whose gang crackdown, criticized by human rights groups, has become a model for parts of Latin America&#8217;s right.
Politicians from across the region have toured Bukele&#8217;s sprawling &#8220;mega-prison&#8221;, where the United States last year deported more than 200 Venezuelans without trial.
Also in attendance was Honduran President Nasry Asfura, who narrowly won a disputed election with Trump&#8217;s backing, and Ecuador&#8217;s President Daniel Noboa, who has echoed parts of Trump&#8217;s economic agenda and recently announced joint operations with the U.S. in a military crackdown on drug trafficking.
Many of the leaders share Trump&#8217;s hardline view of crime and migration, favoring crackdowns over deeper social fixes and private business over the state. Their rise reflects a broader rightward turn in parts of Latin America at a time when the region is being pulled between Washington and Beijing.
Trump did not mention China specifically but warned that the United States would not allow &#8220;hostile foreign influence&#8221; to gain a foothold in the Western Hemisphere, including in the Panama Canal, a key global freight route.
The comments, while not explicit, come as Washington increasingly views Latin America through the lens of strategic competition with Beijing.
China’s trade with the region reached about $518 billion in 2024 and Beijing has extended more than $120 billion in loans to governments across the Western Hemisphere, according to Ryan Berg of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
China’s growing footprint — from satellite tracking facilities in Argentina to a Chinese-backed port in Peru and economic support for Venezuela — has long troubled U.S. officials.
In response, the Trump administration has pressed governments across the region to curb Beijing’s role in ports, energy projects and other strategic infrastructure.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Miami, Florida, David Brunnstrom in Washington and Sarah Morland in Mexico City; Additional reporting by Simon Lewis in Washington and Natalia Siniawski in Mexico City, Editing by Sergio Non, Himani Sarkar, Alex Richardson and Alistair Bell)

Donald Trump

Trump Launches New America-Led Security Push To Crush Cartels, Counter China

Communist China

Global Politics

South America

World

The U.S. and Ecuador carried out a joint operation targeting drug trafficking operations in the South American country, authorities in both countries said on Friday, with the U.S. calling the move &#8220;lethal kinetic operations.&#8221;
Neither the U.S. Southern Command, a branch of its military that oversees forces in Latin America, nor Ecuador&#8217;s defense ministry, said if anyone was killed or captured in the strike, which Ecuador dubbed operation &#8220;Total Extermination.&#8221;
The operations used helicopters, aircraft, river boats and drones to locate and bomb a drug traffickers&#8217; training camp in north-east Ecuador near the Colombian border, Ecuador&#8217;s defense ministry said in a statement.
The camp belonged to the Comandos de la Frontera (CDF), a Colombian crime group made up of FARC dissidents, and had a capacity for 50 people, it added.
Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa has made a military crackdown on organised crime a cornerstone of his administration, and his government imposed tariffs on its larger neighbor Colombia, accusing it of not doing enough to fight drug trafficking.
He is set to travel to Miami this weekend to take part in the Trump administration&#8217;s &#8220;Shield of the Americas&#8221; summit, which brings together many right-wing leaders across the region with a focus on regional security and organized crime.
&#8220;The United States is a key ally in this fight,&#8221; the defense ministry said.
&#8220;At the request of Ecuador, the Department of War executed targeted action to advance our shared objective of dismantling narco-terrorist networks,&#8221; Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote on X.
The operation followed a similar U.S-Ecuadorean operation announced by the U.S. Southern Command earlier this week.
(Reporting by Jasper Ward in Washington, Alexandra Valencia in Quito and Sarah Morland in Mexico City; Editing by Christian Martinez and Diane Craft)

Ecuador Military

U.S., Ecuador Bomb Drug Trafficker Camp Near Colombia Border, Militaries Say

Ecuador

The United States struck a &#8220;terrorist&#8221; target in Ecuador on Tuesday, flexing its military might while simultaneously carrying out full-scale war against Iran.
On Tuesday, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced that U.S. and Ecuadorian military forces launched joint operations against &#8220;Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador,&#8221; saying the narco-terrorist group had &#8220;long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere.&#8221;
This announcement marks a significant shift from training missions to active engagement. SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan praised the &#8220;unwavering commitment&#8221; and &#8220;courage&#8221; of the Ecuadorian armed forces, characterizing the collaboration as a decisive strike against the &#8220;scourge of narco-terrorism&#8221; that has destabilized the hemisphere through violence and systemic corruption.
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On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador. The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism.
Together,… <a href="https://t.co/MrkKZcrDbs">pic.twitter.com/MrkKZcrDbs</a>
&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2029011785567572285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The joint operation is the culmination of a strategic move by Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. Since taking office in 2023 and securing a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/4-things-know-about-young-conservative-anti-crime-president-ecuador-who-just-re-elected?intcmp=tw_fnc">full four-year term</a> in April 2025, the Miami-born, pro-Trump conservative has consistently campaigned for international intervention. Noboa argued that what began as local gangs had evolved into international narco-terrorist groups who were responsible for roughly 70% of the world’s cocaine transit.
To facilitate this military cooperation, the U.S. government took several formal steps throughout 2025: In September 2025, the United States officially designated major Ecuadorian gangs Los Choneros and Los Lobos as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). These joined the February 2025 FTO designations of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua and the Mexican Sinaloa and CJNG cartels, all of which maintain significant operations within Ecuador.
In July 2025, the leader of Los Choneros, José Adolfo Macías Villamar (alias &#8220;Fito&#8221;), was extradited to the United States.
There has been a staggering rise in violence in Ecuador. Despite Noboa’s &#8220;no-holds-barred&#8221; strategies—including <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/fears-another-narco-state-rise-latin-american-country-readies-pivotal-vote">declaring</a> an &#8220;internal armed conflict&#8221; in 2024—Ecuador has struggled with the highest murder rate in Latin America. In 2024 alone, the country recorded nearly 7,000 homicides, forcing approximately 95,000 citizens to flee the country.
While previous leftist administrations, such as that of Rafael Correa, expelled the U.S. military in 2014, Noboa has actively courted a U.S. presence, even expressing interest in hosting a permanent U.S. military base.
For the United States, a stable, pro-American Ecuador is viewed as a critical bulwark against the influence of ideological groups opposed to the United States.

Screenshot

WATCH: U.S. Military Strikes ‘Designated Terrorist’ Target In Ecuador

From Training To Action: U.S., Ecuador Escalate War On Designated Terrorist Organizations

The Trump administration is keeping up the pressure on the Mexican government after assisting in the operation that killed a major drug cartel kingpin over the weekend.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that the Trump administration is &#8220;pushing&#8221; Mexico to take stronger action to curb the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.
&#8220;We are coordinating and cooperating and pushing the Mexican government to do more to end the scourge of deadly drugs coming through our United States Southern border, which of course is now secure thanks to President Trump as well,&#8221; Leavitt said during a Fox News appearance.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a>: &#8220;We encourage all Americans in Mexico to of course adhere to the guidance provided by the <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StateDept</a>&#8230; and the Mexican drug cartels know not to lay a finger on a single American or they will pay severe consequences under this <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/gwbUaD5oi9">pic.twitter.com/gwbUaD5oi9</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2026293274827272418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Leavitt said the Sunday strike that took out longtime Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes during an operation in the southwestern town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, &#8220;would not have happened without the leadership of President Trump.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/friendly-fire?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_content=20260224_sotu_aa_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=banner" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Watch the State of the Union with The Daily Wire! Live coverage from the nation&#8217;s capital begins at 7:45 ET.</a>
&#8220;He has made it a day one priority to target and go after these vicious drug cartels that have shipped deadly poison to our country for far too long,&#8221; Leavitt said, citing President Donald Trump&#8217;s decision to designate some of Mexico&#8217;s most notorious cartels as terrorist organizations and the administration&#8217;s dozens of military strikes on drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Following Sunday&#8217;s operation, cartel members set buses and cars ablaze and erected roadblocks in some of the most popular vacation spots frequented by American tourists.
The State Department <a href="https://x.com/TravelGov/status/2025636042007605353" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urged</a> American citizens to “shelter in place” if they are in the Mexican state of Jalisco — including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara — as well as in Tamaulipas, which borders Texas, parts of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León.
American and Canadian airlines quickly canceled flights out of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, leaving tourists stranded.
American tourist Jim Beck, who said he has been going to Puerto Vallarta “for almost twenty years,” <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@cnn/video/7609924460602313997?q=puerto%20vallarta&amp;t=1771858884471" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> CNN that it’s the first time he’s been “actually terrified” while visiting the area.
“We saw people running down the streets, running from the flames and stuff and the fire. And we ran back to the hotel and then that’s when they got the shelter in order place and we’ve been here all day,” Beck said.
“It’s been pretty scary … all the locals being locked up and hidden with us too, there’s a few homeless people that were brought into this hotel … so that they had some place to go too. It’s been quite surreal knowing this warm, wonderful place that we come to visit a couple times a year is in lockdown and just terrifying for all the people,” he said.
Leavitt said the Trump administration is &#8220;unaware of any reports of any Americans being hurt, kidnapped, or killed,&#8221; adding, &#8220;The Mexican drug cartels know not to lay a finger on a single American or they will pay severe consequences under this president.&#8221;
The State Department has also set up &#8220;24/7 phone lines&#8221; to help Americans who are stranded in Mexico, Leavitt said.

TOPSHOT-MEXICO-CRIME-DRUG TRAFFICKING-OPERATION

Trump Sends Clear Message After Cartel Rampage Leaves Americans Stranded

Claudia Sheinbaum

Executive

Karoline Leavitt

National Security

Politics

Mexican special forces take out Jalisco Cartel leader “El Mencho,” sparking violence across 20 Mexican states. President Donald Trump will deliver the annual State of the Union address on Tuesday night, and another high-profile name has been arrested in the U.K. over their connection to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It’s Tuesday, February 24, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/violence-engulfs-mexico-britains-epstein-reckoning-2-24-26/id1576594336?i=1000751166888" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Mexico Takes Out Kingpin ‘El Mencho’</h2>
With help from the United States, Mexican special forces on Sunday <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mexican-drug-lord-el-mencho-killed-in-military-operation-says-government-source">killed</a> longtime Jalisco Cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes. 
Oseguera, with a U.S. bounty of $15 million, was regarded as one of the most notorious drug traffickers in the world. He was perhaps the most powerful drug lord in the world. This was a major step by Mexico and a big win for the United States. American authorities say groups like the Jalisco Cartel are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans a year through the drug trade.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/friendly-fire?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_content=20260224_sotu_aa_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=banner" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Watch the State of the Union with The Daily Wire! Live coverage from the nation&#8217;s capital begins at 7:45 ET.</a>
Violence has exploded across the country in the aftermath. There are many Americans stranded in Mexico right now because the violence has closed down roads and airports. At least a couple of dozen Mexican National Guardsmen have been killed so far in the fighting.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">SOTU Preview</h2>
President Trump will deliver his annual State of the Union address tonight — a high-stakes moment for outlining his administration’s priorities and shaping the message Republicans will take into the 2026 midterm elections.
It’s expected to be a consequential evening, with Trump highlighting what he frames as major accomplishments in the first year of his second term and stressing policy directions he hopes will resonate with Republican voters.
Expect him to spotlight what he describes as historic gains at the southern border, touting a dramatic crackdown on illegal immigration and stepped-up deportations. He is also likely to point to diplomatic and security developments in the Middle East, including the continued tension between the United States, Israel, and Iran, as talks over Iran&#8217;s nuclear program continue in Geneva and officials caution that the risk of conflict remains high.
On trade, Trump is pressing forward. After the Supreme Court limited his earlier tariff framework, the administration implemented a 10% global tariff under separate authority, with the president saying he would prefer to raise it to 15%. The current rate remains at 10%, but Trump is expected to make the case that tougher trade measures are key to protecting American workers and reducing the trade deficit.
The president is also likely to highlight efforts to make American cities safer, reinforcing law-and-order themes that are central to his broader political narrative.
All told, tonight’s address is set to be part accomplishments report, part policy outline, and part strategic messaging designed to shape the national debate — and Republican positioning — as voters head into the midterms later this year.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Ex-Ambassador Mandelson Arrested</h2>
Former U.K. ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-british-ambassador-arrested-over-epstein-file-revelations?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Former+British+Ambassador+Arrested+Over+Epstein+File+Revelations">arrested</a> Monday over “suspicion of misconduct” in office. The charges stem from newly released Jeffrey Epstein files. 
Mandelson served under Prime Minister Keir Starmer before Starmer removed him in September 2025. The scandal erupting around Mandelson has threatened to tear apart Starmer’s government, as well as further validating concerns about Mandelson prior to his appointment, based on information in the Epstein files. The arrest comes just days after British police <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-prince-andrew-arrested-over-epstein-files-faces-life-in-prison">arrested</a> former Prince Andrew in connection with his ties to Epstein. 
Morning Wire spoke with GB News host Bev Turner about the latest fallout from the Epstein files. According to Turner, Mandelson could be in major trouble: “It genuinely carries a risk of life imprisonment. If you are found guilty of misconduct in public office, it&#8217;s an incredibly serious charge.”

MW_260224_V1

Morning Brief: Trump’s High-Stakes Address To Americans & Tourists Trapped In Cartel Crossfire

Keir Starmer

Morning Wire

State of the Union

United Kingdom

Some of the most popular vacation spots for American tourists have been rocked by cartel violence following the weekend killing of a top cartel leader, stranding some travelers.
Mexican special forces killed longtime Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes during an operation in the southwestern town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, the Mexican government said.
Following the killing, cartel members set buses and cars ablaze and erected roadblocks in certain areas.
As a result, the State Department <a href="https://x.com/TravelGov/status/2025636042007605353" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urged</a> American citizens to &#8220;shelter in place&#8221; if they are in Jalisco State — including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara — as well as in Tamaulipas, which borders Texas, parts of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León.
American and Canadian airlines quickly canceled flights out of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. By Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said flights were expected to resume out of both cities, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2026/02/23/mexico-safe-travel-flights/88822423007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to USA Today.
Some American tourists have taken to TikTok to share their experiences while stranded during their vacations, describing hotels placed on lockdown amid nearby violence.
&#8220;Flights are canceled, we couldn&#8217;t even get to the airport. So we&#8217;re stuck here,&#8221; one woman named Kaila posted on social media from her trip in Puerto Vallarta.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@kailargibson/video/7609837137051094303" data-video-id="7609837137051094303">
<section><a title="@kailargibson" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@kailargibson?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@kailargibson</a> I wanna go home 😭 <a title="vacation" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/vacation?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#vacation</a> <a title="mexico" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/mexico?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#mexico</a> <a title="puertovallarta" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/puertovallarta?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#puertovallarta</a> <a title="♬ Atomized Language - yasuhiro soda" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Atomized-Language-7596970562758395920?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Atomized Language &#8211; yasuhiro soda</a></section>
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One American tourist, Jim Beck, who said he has been visiting Puerto Vallarta &#8220;for almost twenty years,&#8221; <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@cnn/video/7609924460602313997?q=puerto%20vallarta&amp;t=1771858884471" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> CNN that it&#8217;s the first time he&#8217;s been &#8220;actually terrified&#8221; while there.
&#8220;We saw people running down the streets, running from the flames and stuff and the fire. And we ran back to the hotel and then that&#8217;s when they got the shelter in order place and we&#8217;ve been here all day,&#8221; Beck said.
&#8220;It&#8217;s been pretty scary &#8230; all the locals being locked up and hidden with us too, there&#8217;s a few homeless people that were brought into this hotel &#8230; so that they had some place to go too. It&#8217;s been quite surreal knowing this warm, wonderful place that we come to visit a couple times a year is in lockdown and just terrifying for all the people,&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@vivianharrah/video/7609905469561310478" data-video-id="7609905469561310478">
<section><a title="@vivianharrah" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@vivianharrah?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@vivianharrah</a> We have been sheltered in place all day! Stay safe out there everyone! <a title="mexico" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/mexico?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#mexico</a> <a title="puertovallarta" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/puertovallarta?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#puertovallarta</a> <a title="♬ New Sun - Chihei Hatakeyama" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/New-Sun-6703723351497508865?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ New Sun &#8211; Chihei Hatakeyama</a></section>
</blockquote>
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Another tourist shared how the once-vibrant beach town appeared deserted.
&#8220;We&#8217;re locked down at the hotels. Absolutely no cars or buses on the road,&#8221; one tourist named Mikey said in a TikTok video. &#8220;There&#8217;s absolutely nobody out, the hotels are locked, nobody in or out of the resort.&#8221;
&#8220;I don&#8217;t know if we&#8217;re gonna be able to get out, but we&#8217;ll be able to keep the room if we need to stay here a few days,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@nymikeca4718/video/7609879387327958302" data-video-id="7609879387327958302">
<section><a title="@nymikeca4718" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nymikeca4718?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@nymikeca4718</a> We’re locked in at the hotel for now. Monitoring updates and staying put. Hoping things settle down tonight and don’t escalate. Grateful we’re safe and just taking it hour by hour. Sharing real-time so anyone traveling can stay informed. <a title="puertovallartaupdate" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/puertovallartaupdate?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#PuertoVallartaUpdate</a> <a title="traveladvisory" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/traveladvisory?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#TravelAdvisory</a> <a title="staysafe" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/staysafe?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#StaySafe</a> <a title="realtimeupdate" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/realtimeupdate?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#RealTimeUpdate</a> <a title="mousai" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/mousai?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#Mousai</a> <a title="♬ original sound - Mikey C ❌" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7609879427274591006?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound &#8211; Mikey C ❌</a></section>
</blockquote>
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MEXICO-CRIME-DRUG TRAFFICKING-OPERATION

Cartel Kingpin Taken Out — Now Americans Are Caught In The Middle

Crime

Tourism

Chaos swept across parts of western Mexico on Sunday following the killing of one of the country’s most feared cartel leaders in a military operation that officials say was carried out with U.S. cooperation.
Mexican special forces killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the longtime head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during an operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, according to the Mexican government. Oseguera was widely regarded as one of the most powerful drug traffickers in the world.
According to the <a href="https://x.com/EmbamexEUA/status/2025664020431151423">Mexican Embassy in the United States</a>, the United States provided “complementary information” to Mexican authorities as part of bilateral coordination.
Following the operation, cartel members engaged in violent acts in parts of Jalisco, Michoacán, and Guanajuato, setting buses on fire and erecting roadblocks in multiple cities, <a href="https://x.com/PabloLemusN/status/2025589614463823889">according to</a> Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro. In response, Lemus Navarro announced that schools throughout the state would be closed.
The U.S. State Department <a href="https://x.com/TravelGov/status/2025636042007605353">urged</a> American citizens to shelter in place if they are in Jalisco State — including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara &#8212; as well as Tamaulipas, parts of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León.
Additional footage appeared to show fires in the parking lot of a Costco in Puerto Vallarta, a coastal city popular with American tourists that draws millions of visitors each year.
Derek Maltz, former acting administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration until May, told The Daily Wire that Oseguera had long been the top cartel target for the United States.
“Obviously, El Mencho has been like public enemy number one for many years. He’s built up this global enterprise with the CJNG,” Maltz said. “We&#8217;ve been sharing intelligence against Mencho for a long time. And we share intelligence daily with our counterparts in the embassy in Mexico.”
Maltz added that the DEA, together with the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, and others are working with their Mexican counterparts “every day to go after these cartel leaders.”
Oseguera was one of Mexico’s most wanted men. The Mexican government had offered a 30 million peso reward — roughly $1.7 million — for information leading to his arrest. The United States had posted a $15 million reward, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/22/americas/mexico-kill-drug-mencho-latam-intl">reported CNN</a>.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has previously <a href="https://www.dea.gov/cartels">described</a> the cartel as among the “most powerful and ruthless criminal organizations” operating inside Mexico, calling it a key supplier of illicit fentanyl and cocaine to the United States. The DEA added that the group’s facilitators and associates operate in nearly all 50 U.S. states.
In 2022, the United States Department of Justice charged Oseguera with leading efforts to manufacture and distribute fentanyl for importation into the United States. The CJNG was later designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the Trump administration.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau <a href="https://x.com/DeputySecState/status/2025648742049947797">celebrated</a> the news on X.
“I’ve just been informed that Mexican security forces have killed ‘El Mencho,’ one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins,” Landau wrote. “This is a great development for Mexico, the U.S., Latin America, and the world. The good guys are stronger than the bad guys.”
The Mexican government said various aircraft from the Air Force and the Special Immediate Reaction Force of the National Guard participated in the raid. During the operation, military personnel reportedly came under attack.
“In defense of their physical integrity, they repelled the aggression,” the embassy said. Four CJNG members were killed at the scene. Three others, severely wounded, died during an airlift to Mexico City, including Oseguera. Several additional suspects were arrested.
Authorities also seized armored vehicles and heavy weaponry, including rocket launchers capable of downing aircraft and destroying armored vehicles. Three Mexican security personnel were injured.
“From day one, President Trump and this administration has made it clear that if you’re selling drugs and moving poisonous substances into America, you’re going to be held accountable,” Maltz said. “He declared the cartels as terrorists; he’s declared fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction. So he’s doing everything to put American citizens first.”
He added that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has been highly cooperative with the Trump administration, sending 92 high-level Mexican cartel leaders and gang leaders to America to face justice.
“That has never happened in the history of our war against the cartels,” Maltz said.

Mexican cartel leader ‘El Mencho’ killed in military operation

Chaos Erupts In Mexico After Cartel Boss ‘El Mencho’ Killed By Special Forces

Drugs

Trump Administration

Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as &#8220;El Mencho,&#8221; has been killed in a military operation, a government source familiar with the operation told Reuters on Sunday.
An ex-police officer, Oseguera was the shadowy leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), an outfit that took its moniker from the western state of the same name that is home to Mexico&#8217;s second city, Guadalajara.
Over a relatively short period of time, the CJNG morphed into a continents-spanning criminal enterprise rivaling his former allies in the Sinaloa Cartel, the gang of captured kingpin Joaquin &#8216;El Chapo&#8217; Guzman, now in a U.S. prison.
The news of Oseguera&#8217;s death followed a federal security operation in the state of Jalisco&#8217;s city of Tapalpa, according to a post by governor Pablo Lemus Navarro on X.
After the operation, multiple vehicles were set on fire throughout Jalisco and other states, according to media outlets and officials.
Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla, the governor of the state of Michoacan, wrote on X that he had received reports of state highways being blocked as a result of the operation in Jalisco.
Oseguera&#8217;s death comes as the Trump administration has ratcheted up the fight against drug cartels and distributors in the western hemisphere. The United States, under Operation Southern Spear, has killed approximately 145 suspected drug runners in 42 strikes in the Pacific and Caribbean since September of 2025.
In January, the United States executed an operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The operation was considered extremely successful, with zero U.S. military fatalities, according to the Trump administration. The raid also featured a weapon President Trump described as the &#8220;<a href="https://nypost.com/2026/01/24/us-news/trump-reveals-to-the-post-secret-discombobulator-weapon-was-crucial-to-venezuelan-raid-on-maduro/">discombobulator</a>,&#8221; which allegedly &#8220;made [enemy] equipment not work.&#8221; The president said he couldn&#8217;t go into further detail on the weapon.
Additionally, Oseguera&#8217;s death follows the capture of Ovidio Guzmán López, the son of infamous drug trafficker El Chapo, in 2023 by Mexican authorities. Guzmán López was eventually extradited to the United States to stand trial where he <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/joaquin-guzman-lopez-son-el-chapo-and-leader-sinaloa-cartel-pleads-guilty-federal-drug">pleaded guilty</a> to drug charges, according to the Department of Justice.
“The Sinaloa Cartel is a terrorist organization that has spent decades destroying American families through brutal violence and deadly drug trafficking,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “[The] guilty plea from El Chapo’s son is a major victory against the Sinaloa Cartel and underscores the Trump Administration’s historic, aggressive campaign to dismantle terrorist organizations that target the American people.”
(Reporting by Emily Green and Lizbeth Diaz; Editing by Christian Plumb)

Mexican Drug Lord ‘El Mencho’ Killed In Military Operation

The United States military, under the command of President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth, took out three boats suspected of trafficking drugs on Monday, killing 11 &#8220;male narco-terrorists,&#8221; according to U.S. Southern Command.
The kinetic strikes targeted two boats in the Eastern Pacific and one boat in the Caribbean. U.S. Southern Command said that the suspected drug-runners were &#8220;transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations.&#8221; On Tuesday, the U.S. military shared unclassified <a href="https://x.com/Southcom/status/2023791027383890240">video footage</a> of all three strikes.
&#8220;Turns out President’s Day — under President Trump — is not a good day to run drugs,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/PeteHegseth/status/2023810666004668441">said</a> War Secretary Pete Hegseth.
With the latest strikes, at least 145 suspected drug runners have been killed in 42 strikes targeting &#8220;narcoterrorist&#8221; boats in the Pacific and Caribbean since last September. Monday&#8217;s operations followed a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-military-says-it-obliterated-another-narcoterrorist-drug-boat-in-caribbean">strike</a> on Friday that destroyed a boat and killed three suspected drug smugglers.
President Donald Trump has defended his authority to carry out the strikes as Democrats argue that Congress must be given a say in the military operations being conducted without a declaration of war. Some Democrats have even claimed that Trump&#8217;s boat strikes in international waters amount to murder. Trump, however, has not backed down on his vow to obliterate suspected drug boats and argues that the United States is in an &#8220;armed conflict&#8221; with drug cartels that seek to transport deadly substances into the United States.
Shortly after the United States began conducting strikes against suspected drug traffickers, Trump <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-warns-drug-traffickers-we-will-blow-you-out-existence-2025-09-23/">said</a> in a speech at the United Nations, &#8220;To every terrorist thug smuggling poisonous drugs into the United States of America, please be warned that we will blow you out of existence.&#8221;
Responding to criticism from lawmakers over the strikes in October, Trump told reporters, “I don’t think we’re going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war. I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country, OK? We’re going to kill them.&#8221;
Trump has also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/whatever-we-have-to-do-trump-says-hes-ok-with-striking-inside-mexico-to-stop-drugs">suggested</a> that the United States could target suspected narco-terrorists on land, which he said could include strikes inside Mexico and Colombia.
The U.S. strikes were further scrutinized by some lawmakers late last year after it was revealed that the U.S. military conducted a second strike on one boat in early September after some of the suspected narco-terrorists survived the first attack. The War Department has not publicly released the footage of the second strike and has only shown a select few lawmakers footage of the &#8220;double tap&#8221; strike.
Trump&#8217;s military campaign against drug traffickers led to the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro last month.
Maduro, who was accused of conspiring to traffic drugs to the United States, raged against the U.S. strikes in the Caribbean and vowed to fight U.S. forces if the United States made a move on Venezuela.
Following his capture, Maduro was charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy, and he now awaits trial in New York.

U.S. Southern Command

U.S. Destroys Three Suspected Narco-Terrorist Boats On Presidents’ Day

Pete Hegseth

U.S. Military

The U.S. military conducted another lethal strike on Friday against a suspected drug‑smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, killing three, the latest in a concerted campaign under Operation Southern Spear to disrupt narcotics trafficking networks that transport deadly drugs toward the United States.
<a href="https://www.southcom.mil/News/PressReleases/Article/4406922/lethal-kinetic-strike-feb-13-2026/">According</a> to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Gen. Francis L. Donovan directed Joint Task Force Southern Spear to carry out a “lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” adding that no U.S. military personnel were harmed in the operation. Video accompanying the announcement shows the boat steaming along known narco routes just before it is struck and destroyed.
This strike marks the fourth publicly disclosed operation in 2026, following an earlier <a href="https://www.southcom.mil/News/PressReleases/Article/4401932/lethal-kinetic-strike-feb-9-2026/">attack</a> this week in the Eastern Pacific that killed two and left one survivor. Since Southern Spear began operations in September 2025, there have been 39 confirmed engagements in both the Pacific and Caribbean.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
On Feb. 13, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOUTHCOM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOUTHCOM</a> commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known… <a href="https://t.co/y50Pbtexfi">pic.twitter.com/y50Pbtexfi</a>
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2022469576332574908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The impact of these strikes against multiple vessels moving along established smuggling corridors has forced cartel networks to adjust their operations, according to statements by Defense officials. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth previously <a href="https://x.com/PeteHegseth/status/2019511650282545273">posted</a> that “some top cartel drug‑traffickers” have chosen to “cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY” in response to the “highly effective” multilateral crackdown.
Southern Spear targets suspected traffickers in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, regions notoriously used by transnational cartels to transport heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and precursor chemicals up to the U.S. mainland. SOUTHCOM has described the vessels it strikes as linked to designated terrorist organizations and engaged in narco‑trafficking, although it has not publicly disclosed the identities of the groups involved.
Support for the operation has come from high levels of the Trump administration, which has framed the maritime strikes as part of a broader confrontation with narco‑terror and cartel networks that operate with impunity in the Western Hemisphere. Officials argue that the lethal pressure is longstanding justice for families ravaged by drugs and a stark deterrent to traffickers who have specialized in moving product toward U.S. streets.
The Southern Spear campaign has unfolded against the backdrop of an even broader security offensive aimed at narcotics networks and destabilizing forces in the region. On January 3, 2026, U.S. Special Forces executed a complex nighttime raid in Caracas that resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, whom U.S. officials have charged with drug trafficking and narco‑terrorism.
The Caracas <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/united-states-carries-out-military-strikes-on-venezuela-captures-president-nicolas-maduro">operation</a>, involving elite units such as Delta Force, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and support from over 150 aircraft, demonstrated a willingness by the U.S. military to confront narco‑state threats directly, and not just at sea.
The campaign in Venezuela has been justified by U.S. leaders as part of an effort to dismantle the infrastructure used by cartels, particularly groups allied with or operating out of Venezuela. Hegseth and other officials have linked Caracas’ regime and associated networks to the flow of drugs that fuels the opioid crisis in the United States. The capture of Maduro and his extradition to New York to face federal charges further ties the regional narcotics fight to broader national security and law enforcement priorities.
The combination of maritime strikes and high‑profile operations like the Venezuela raid reflects a multi‑domain pressure campaign aimed at disrupting narcotics infrastructure at every level. By striking at both the transportation networks on the seas and leadership figures linked to narco‑trafficking in the region, cartels and allied networks no longer enjoy safe passage or sanctuary.
According to the Trump administration, each successful strike degrades traffickers’ operational capabilities and expands deterrence across the hemisphere. As the Southern Spear campaign continues, the decisive actions reflect a unified strategy to choke off cocaine, fentanyl, and other illicit flows at their source, hitting traffickers where they are most vulnerable: on the sea, in leadership echelons, and in allied networks that have long benefitted from weak enforcement.

Untitled design (78)

U.S. Military Says It Obliterated Another Narcoterrorist Drug Boat In Caribbean

Department of War

narco-terrorism

President Donald Trump said that he spoke to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum over the phone on Thursday about multiple issues and praised the leader, whom he has recently criticized.
Trump said the call with Sheinbaum &#8220;focused on the Border, stopping Drug Trafficking, and Trade&#8221; and went &#8220;extremely well for both Countries.&#8221; He added that he hopes to set up a meeting between the United States and Mexico soon.
&#8220;Mexico has a wonderful and highly intelligent Leader — They should be very happy about that!&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115979311914390909">said</a>.
Sheinbaum <a href="https://x.com/Claudiashein/status/2016893373026607529">said</a> her call with Trump was &#8220;productive and cordial.&#8221;
&#8220;We continue to make progress on trade issues and the bilateral relationship,&#8221; she added.
Trump and Sheinbaum have butted heads throughout the past year over Trump&#8217;s tariffs and his suggestion that the United States could target drug traffickers in Mexico. Last May, Trump reportedly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-pressures-mexico-to-allow-u-s-military-to-lead-fight-against-drug-cartels?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Pressures+Mexico+To+Allow+U.S.+Military+To+Lead+Fight+Against+Drug+Cartels">pressured</a> Sheinbaum to allow U.S. troops to go into the country to fight the drug cartels, but Sheinbaum was not willing to give U.S. forces the green light. Trump then <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-mexicos-president-afraid-to-let-american-troops-come-fight-cartels?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Says+Mexico%E2%80%99s+President+%E2%80%98Afraid%E2%80%99+To+Let+American+Troops+Come+Fight+Cartels">blasted</a> Sheinbaum, saying she was &#8220;afraid&#8221; and &#8220;can’t even think straight.&#8221;
The Mexican president <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mexican-president-says-u-s-military-will-not-fight-drug-cartels-on-its-soil?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Mexican+President+Says+U.S.+Military+Will+Not+Fight+Drug+Cartels+On+Its+Soil">doubled down</a> on her opposition to Trump sending U.S. troops to her country in August after The New York Times reported that Trump quietly signed an order to use military force against drug cartels in foreign countries.
&#8220;The United States is not going to come to Mexico with the military,&#8221; Sheinbaum said, adding, &#8220;We cooperate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion. That is ruled out, absolutely ruled out. It is not part of any agreement, far from it. When it has been brought up, we have always said no.&#8221;
After the United States captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, Trump <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/09/americas/analysis-mexican-drug-cartels-trump-intl-latam">said</a> the cartels are &#8220;running Mexico,&#8221; adding that &#8220;we have to do something&#8221; about drugs &#8220;pouring through Mexico.&#8221; He again said Sheinbaum was &#8220;afraid&#8221; to deal with Mexican cartels.
As the United States conducts strikes on suspected drug runner boats in international waters in the Caribbean, Trump also suggested last week that he would authorize strikes on drug runners on highly-trafficked land passages, which could include Mexico.
&#8220;We’re going to hit the cartels,” he <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/01/24/us-news/trump-reveals-to-the-post-on-land-drug-strikes-could-hit-anywhere-including-mexico-central-and-south-america/">told</a> the New York Post. &#8220;We know their routes. We know everything about them. We know their homes. We know everything about them. We’re going to hit the cartels.&#8221;
Trump&#8217;s tariffs have also represented a conflict between him and the Mexican leader. After Trump hit Mexico, Canada, and China with tariffs over what he called their failure to address fentanyl trafficking, Sheinbaum said Mexico would retaliate, but the country paused its retaliatory tariffs on the United States as it sought to negotiate a trade deal, and many products from Mexico are protected under the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA).
On Wednesday, Mexico&#8217;s economy chief Marcelo Ebrard met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington, D.C., to discuss potential changes to the USMCA, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/mexicos-sheinbaum-says-she-had-productive-call-with-trump-trade-2026-01-29/">reported</a>. The USMCA went into effect in 2020 and is up for a joint review in July, when the United States, Mexico, and Canada must come to an agreement for the pact to be extended.

Trump/Sheinbaum

Trump Praises Mexico’s President After Phone Call Addressing Border, Drug Trafficking, And Trade

drug trafficking

trade

U.S.

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