On 22 February 2026, Mexican military and law enforcement agents undertook an operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco to capture (or kill) Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), and the most wanted man in both Mexico and the U.S. He was the head of the most powerful criminal organization in Mexico. El Mencho, along with several other key leaders within the CJNG, were killed or captured in the operation, which was supported by U.S. intelligence. 

Following the operation were widespread shootouts and cartel blockades across multiple states in Mexico, starting in Jalisco and radiating outward as the news spread. Criminal actors hijacked and burned vehicles, attacked gas stations and small businesses, deployed tire spikes on roadways, and engaged security forces in multiple armed confrontations. Multiple airlines cancelled flights into Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Mazatlán out of an abundance of caution. While the violence began in Jalisco state, there were over 250 confirmed blockades in 22 states. Authorities indicated nearly all roadblocks were cleared as of early morning hours on 23 February. 

Municipal governments and schools in multiple states were closed on Monday, 23 February, amid ongoing concerns of violence. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City issued multiple alerts to U.S. citizens to shelter-in-place. Thelatest alertestablishes remote-work and shelter-in-place orders for U.S. government personnel for 23 February in Guadalajara (Jalisco), Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco/Nayarit), Ciudad Guzman (Jalisco), Cancun (Quintana Roo), Playa del Carmen (Quintana Roo), Cozumel (Quintana Roo), Reynosa (Tamaulipas state), and Tijuana (Baja California). 

Large-scale disruptions are a common retaliatory tactic used by criminal groups after high-level arrests or leadership targeting. The intent is to create operational chaos, slow security force deployments, and pressure authorities regarding detained figures. A similarly disruptive but more localized version of this happened in Culiacan, Sinaloa in 2019 during an attempted arrest of Ovidio Guzman, one of the sons of El Chapo. He was released from custody after more than 700 cartel gunmen laid siege to the jail where he was being held. 

As of 20 February 2026, the potential for U.S. strikes on Iran remains elevated amidst massive U.S. military buildup in the region, stalling negotiations, and increasingly concerning statements from American, European, and Iranian officials. As such, Global Guardian continues to advise the following: 

• Avoid non-essential travel to Israel.
• Reconsider travel to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
• Be prepared for major airspace disruptions in the event of conflict.

MEXICO | TAIWAN

In Global Guardian's monthly Risk Barometer, our Intelligence Team highlights current global hotspots with the potential to impact your business operations and travel. Read below for analysis on the threats we are closely monitoring this month and click here to subscribe for regular intelligence updates.

Why more CEOs and boards are worrying about security: 'The risk is everywhere.''

“There isn’t a distinction between low-, medium-, or high-risk anymore. The risk is everywhere.”

As executive safety concerns escalate, organizations are rethinking how they protect their most visible leaders. In Business Insider, Global Guardian CEO and President Dale Buckner shares how long-standing assumptions around executive risk are giving way to a more governance-driven approach—where executive security is no longer discretionary, but a core enterprise-risk consideration.

Heightened security for Starbucks CEO puts spotlight on growing safety concerns for industry executives

Middle East | Russia-Ukraine WaR

In Global Guardian's monthly Risk Barometer, our Intelligence Team highlights current global hotspots with the potential to impact your business operations and travel. Read below for analysis on the threats we are closely monitoring this month and click here to subscribe for regular intelligence updates.

Global Guardian VP of Client Risk ManagementSeth Krummrichrecently joinedBrian Kilmeadeon Fox News Radio to discuss the evolving situation in Venezuela—what may come next, the broader regional implications, and how organizations can operate amid ongoing uncertainty.

During the conversation, Seth shared how Global Guardian is supporting clients in the region, including proactive executive protection and transportation, contingency planning, and evacuation preparedness: “Before the sun came up on Saturday, our Venezuelan team already had all the evacuation routes that we needed to get any of our clients or employees or families out of Venezuela.”

As conditions continue to shift, our teams remain focused on helping clients assess risk, protect personnel, and maintain continuity—on the ground and in real time.

Venezuela: What's Next?

“You don’t want, in a fragile situation, a power vacuum. That’s where you get fighting in and amongst different groups.”

Following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Mike Ballard, Director of Intelligence at Global Guardian, spoke with Border Report Live to break down what the latest developments could mean for the region moving forward.

In the interview, Mike shares insight on how the situation is likely to evolve in the near term, potential impacts to migration flows, U.S. interests, and regional stability, and what Global Guardian is advising clients operating in or near Latin America to monitor closely. He also addresses broader implications for countries including Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico.

Click below to watch the interview, which runs from approximately minute 5:00 to minute 23:00.

What the U.S. used to capture Maduro

“Audacious, surgical and stunning — the operation single-handedly rewrote U.S.-Venezuelan policy and significantly impacted China, Russia, North Korea and Iran’s strategic calculus.”

Seth Krummrich, Vice President of Client Risk Management at Global Guardian, was recently featured in Axios discussing the U.S. operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The article explores the scale and complexity of the operation, along with the broader geopolitical implications shaping the region and beyond.

Maduro’s Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president on 05 January. While Maduro has been removed, the regime remains intact for now. The U.S. believes they have a compliant leader in Rodríguez, who will act in a provisional capacity while the U.S. manages the transition to democracy, for which a timeline has not been proposed.