By Zoila Palma: The killing of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho,” triggered widespread unrest across parts of Mexico this week, forcing travelers and residents to scramble for safety.
Violence erupted in cities including Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, where roadblocks were set up using burning vehicles and airports experienced major disruptions.
Officials issued shelter-in-place orders as military operations and cartel retaliation sparked fear across several states.
Many American travelers found themselves stranded after commercial flights were canceled, pushing some to search social media for private evacuation services despite extremely high costs, USA Today reports.
One traveler, 23-year-old Mitchell Rusitzky from California, said his group considered private security as a last resort while trying to return home from Puerto Vallarta. He described the prices as expensive but necessary to evaluate if the security situation worsened and emergency escape became required.
Private security and evacuation companies reported increased demand during the crisis.
A Florida-based company offered shared private aircraft seats at about $5,500 per adult or $4,000 per child, while a private 14–16 passenger aircraft could cost between $92,000 and $105,000.
Additional services included secure airport transport for about $2,500, armored vehicles ranging from $3,500 to $6,500, and executive protection teams costing about $10,800 for three days of deployment.
By Feb. 23, some travelers were able to escape via commercial flights after long delays, while others relied on private aviation services.
Flight records showed at least 11 private jets departing Puerto Vallarta that day alongside about 30 commercial flights.
The post International News: Americans in Mexico seek private evacuations as violence disrupts travel appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The killing of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho,” triggered widespread unrest across parts of Mexico this week, forcing travelers and residents to scramble for safety. Violence erupted in cities including Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, where roadblocks were set up using burning vehicles and airports experienced major disruptions.
The post International News: Americans in Mexico seek private evacuations as violence disrupts travel appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.