Tourists trapped in beach town after 'most-wanted' cartel boss El Mencho killed in military operation

Tourists have been left trapped in a resort town on Mexico's Pacific coast after the country's most-wanted cartel boss was killed during a military operation on Sunday (22 February).

Nemesio 'El Mencho' Osguera Cervantes, head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed in an operation which involved US intelligence support in an effort to crack doen on drug trafficking in the region.

The death of El Mencho took place while he was being transported to Mexico City with serious injuries, according to the country's defence ministry.

His passing resulted in waves of violence across the North American nation, with it being reported by CNN that several suspected gang members took to setting busses on fire and blocking roads across 20 Mexican states.

Over 250 blockades were reported, as many clashed with security forces, though most roadblocks have now been cleared.

Vehicles were set on fire in Jalisco state (Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)

As a result of the unrest across the nation, tourists in the beachside town of Puerto Vallarta have been forced to stay indoors following the military operation in the town of Tapalpa.

The US State Department has advised American nationals across Mexico to 'seek shelter and remain in residences or hotels', while other nations have also sent warnings out to citizens in Mexico.

A 24/7 crisis hotline for US citizens is also in place after several airlines suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta, though they have more recently claimed that the 'situation has returned to normal' in the states of Quintana Roo, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has told Brits in Jalisco to remain indoors as well and while some airports are remaining open, some domestic and international flights in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta were cancelled.

Speaking to CNN, a woman from California who is in Mexico said: “I’ve been coming to Mexico all my life, ever since I was a little girl, and I’ve never encountered something like this.”

The unrest also forced the Mexican football association to postpone four games which were set to take place yesterday - Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, is set to host several FIFA World Cup games this summer.

Mexican Special Forces were deployed following the death of El Mencho (Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu via Getty Images)

25 members of Mexico's National Guard, a prison guard, and a person who worked at the State Attorney General’s Office sadly died in the unrest which took place in Jalisco state, said Mexico’s secretary of security and citizen protection.

Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, added that '30 criminals' also died.

As well as this, eight members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel were killed in the military operation to capture their leader, in the midst of a 'very violent clash' between cartel members and special forces, said Mexico’s defense secretary, General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo.