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Police patrol Guadalajara, a day after the Mexican army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as ‘El Mencho.’Marco Ugarte/The Associated Press
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Canada is not now considering the option of sending flights to evacuate Canadians from Mexico after a wave of violence erupted on the weekend following the death of a cartel leader.
Ms. Anand provided the update Monday morning in a Parliament Hill news conference.
She urged Canadians in Mexico to shelter in place if that’s what local guidelines suggest.
The minister unfolded a map of Mexico to back her claim that consular officials are out across hotspots standing by to provide assistance to Canadians.
“The safety and security of Canadians abroad remains our highest priority,” she said.
She said 26,305 Canadians have registered with Global Affairs, up 8,000 from Sunday.
The focus has been on the city of Puerto Vallarta amid escalating violence in Jalisco State, where the popular destination is located.
The disorder followed reports that the Mexican army had killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Mr. Cervantes’ death amidst a Mexican government crackdown on cartels prompted cartel members to respond with violence across the country, blocking roads and setting fire to vehicles.
On Monday, Mexico Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said 25 members of the National Guard were killed in Jalisco in six separate attacks after the killing of Mr. Cervantes.
The minister says her Mexican counterpart has told her the security situation in the country will normalize in the coming days. She did not name her Mexican counterpart, but appeared to be referring to Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente.
