Commander Lonche and his FES faction of the CJNG took over La Barca, Jalisco, as shown in a leaked video posted on X by VictorPrez61224 in the hour through 9:45 PM UTC on February 23, 2026, signaling ongoing cartel movements following the death of leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, El Mencho. Videos shared by JaliscoRojo and reposted by All_Source_News on X during this period depict damage caused by CJNG along the Ajijic-Guadalajara highway over the last 24 hours, adding to highway disruptions in Jalisco. These developments build on prior blockades, craters, and trenches on highways to Puerto Vallarta and in Michoacán reported through 7:45 PM UTC, according to Eco1_LVM and CarolinaGomezA on X. The U.S. Embassy's Security Alert Update 4, issued earlier today and posted by TravelGov, continues to urge shelter-in-place in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and other Jalisco areas until blockades clear, while flights to these destinations remain canceled at Mexico City International Airport per AztecaNoticias citing AICM_mx. Mexican officials including President Claudia Sheinbaum and Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla confirmed earlier today that federal forces killed El Mencho in a raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco, with U.S. intelligence support but no military involvement, as reported by clashreport and lopezdoriga on X.
