A rescue operation led by veteran teams is underway to evacuate stranded Americans from Mexico following a surge of violence linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. This intense mission, described as a “war-zone level” operation, was initiated after the death of the cartel’s leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, commonly known as El Mencho, on March 25, 2024. The founder of Grey Bull Rescue, Bryan Stern, confirmed that teams were deployed on March 26 as reports of escalating violence emerged across Jalisco and other regions.
With flights starting to resume from Jalisco on March 27, Stern issued a cautionary message for Americans in the area. He advised individuals to remain indoors until the situation stabilizes. “If you’re in a location that is relatively safe, stay where you shelter in place and hunker down,” he said. “It may be uncomfortable — but uncomfortable and safe is better than comfortable and dead.”
Since its inception in 2021, Grey Bull Rescue has completed over 800 missions, successfully evacuating more than 8,000 Americans and their allies from active conflict zones. Many American tourists are currently sheltering in places such as Puerto Vallarta and other resort areas following the military operation that claimed El Mencho’s life. This operation has triggered a violent retaliation from the cartel, resulting in over 70 deaths on March 25 alone, including 25 members of the National Guard.
As Mexican forces intensify their crackdown on cartel activities, Stern characterized the environment as akin to warfare. He emphasized the cartel’s extensive resources, stating, “The bad guys — these are not punk kids with face tattoos. The cartels are extremely organized, very well-resourced, and very prepared.” This organized response from the cartel has prompted major American and Canadian airlines to cancel flights to and from Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports.
On March 27, airlines such as Air Canada and Air Alaska began resuming flights after Mexican military forces cleared over 250 roadblocks imposed by the cartel across 20 states. In response to the escalating violence, approximately 2,500 additional soldiers have been deployed to western Mexico. The U.S. embassy has maintained a shelter-in-place advisory for Americans in the affected regions, including Jalisco, Baja California, and Nayarit.
As the situation develops, the actions of Grey Bull Rescue and the response from Mexican authorities highlight the challenges faced by both tourists and local residents in navigating the complexities of cartel violence in the region.
