DEVELOPING: CJNG cartel violence from the federal Tapalpa operation spread to Guanajuato during the 29-minute window from 4:45 PM to 5:15 PM UTC on February 22, 2026, with fires reported at pharmacies, Oxxo stores, and blockades in Guanajuato capital, Moroleón, Irapuato, Silao, León, and Purísima del Rincón, as stated by Azucena Uresti and Eco1_LVM on X, amid ongoing Jalisco incidents including downtown Guadalajara shootouts near the Cathedral per Uresti. In Puerto Vallarta, a prisoner escape occurred at Ixtapa prison with at least two guards killed and multiple roadblocks, as reported by Jorge Gómez on X, while Americans were trapped en route to the airport by CJNG blockades according to Beardvet on X. Guanajuato Government urged reporting suspicious activity to 089, confirming no injuries but property damage in the capital's Historic Center Oxxo, per Luz Adriana on X. Jalisco Government maintained Code Red with public transportation suspended, reporting new blockades and vehicle burnings in Zapopan (Tabachines, Vallarta, Alcalde, La Venta del Astillero), Guadalajara (La Paz Ave., Calzada Independencia, Batallón de San Patricio, Rancho Nuevo), Mazamitla, Chapala, Zapotlanejo, Zacoalco, Autlán, Cihuatlán, and Puerto Vallarta, plus attacks on officers on Chapala Highway and store burnings in San Juan de Dios, as detailed by GNocturnaMX on X. Violence reached a fourth state with reports of blockades and Oxxo involvement across Jalisco, Guanajuato, Nayarit, and Michoacán, and additional mentions of Tamaulipas by Libro_negro_ on X. Videos of CJNG attacks circulated nationwide per All_Source_News, with continued chaos in Puerto Vallarta shown by Lopez Doriga and an unknown Guadalajara blockade by HatsumiNonaka, all in retaliation to the Tapalpa arrests earlier today.
