The White House confirmed Tuesday that so far there are no known U.S. casualties in the violence unleashed in Mexico following the death of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, and warned Mexican cartels of the “grave consequences” of injuring U.S. citizens.
“At this time we are not aware of any reports of Americans injured, kidnapped or killed, and the Mexican drug cartels know they cannot touch a single American, or they will face serious consequences under this president, as is already happening,” said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
White House credits Trump for leading operation against El Mencho
US President Donald Trump’s spokeswoman said in an interview with Fox News that the operation “successfully carried out by Mexican authorities” to bring down El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco Cartel – New Generation (CJNG), had the collaboration of US intelligence.
“This would not have been possible without President Trump’s leadership,” Leavitt insisted.
He recalled how the Administration has designated Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and the “lethal measures” taken against boats allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific to stop the flow of illicit substances into the United States.
According to the White House press secretary, Washington is “coordinating, cooperating and pressuring the Mexican government to do more to end the scourge of deadly drugs entering through the southern border of the United States”.
U.S. tourists stranded after wave of violence in Mexico
Hundreds of U.S. tourists found themselves stranded in western Mexico after the killing of El Mencho on Sunday sparked a wave of violence in several Mexican cities.
These include Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, the latter being one of the main tourist destinations in North America.
The leader of the CJNG, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the region, was the most wanted drug trafficker in Mexico.
He was killed during a Mexican Army operation in Tapalpa, in the western state of Jalisco.
Mexican authorities confirmed that they relied on U.S. intelligence.
They will face severe consequences under this president
Karoline Leavitt
In reaction to his death, criminals unleashed a wave of violence in about a third of Mexico’s states.
This resulted in the deaths of 25 military personnel, a custodian and an agent of the Jalisco State Attorney General’s Office, as well as 30 members of the CJNG, according to the official count.
Criminal actions included some 85 blockades on federal highways, the burning of vehicles, attacks on gas stations, stores and banks.
With information from EFE
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com
