Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco, Western Mexico
Drones have been neutralized near World Cup venues and team camps as Mexico enforces Plan Kukulkán. Authorities warn spectators and participants; Canada and the U.S. remain on alert as violence linked to cartel activity and political risk continues to influence preparations across host cities.
In the wake of Mexico hosting the World Cup, families of missing people highlight 135,000 cases across the country, using the tournament to draw attention. Guadalajara features FIFA-style posters, while protests press for government action and enhanced search efforts.
A 28-year-old man has died after a crocodile dragged him from Marina Vallarta Beach as witnesses including a couple visiting from California attempted to rescue him. The body was recovered about 12 hours later.
César Gastélum, a TikTok influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers, has been killed while livestreaming in Culiacán as two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire. The attack adds to years of cartel-driven bloodshed in the region. Authorities have launched investigations and security operations are under way.
The United States has announced a broad enforcement drive against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), charging five senior leaders and unveiling bounties. The actions follow the cartel’s alleged drug trafficking operations and a fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans, with a call to crack down on cartel influence in Mexico and beyond.
César Gastélum has been killed on a Tuesday night in Culiacán, Sinaloa, while livestreaming with friends. A motorcyclist pulled up and shot him at close range before fleeing. Authorities say some posts he published referenced a criminal group, and officials are investigating whether his online content or associations contributed to the targeting. The killing adds to a pattern of influencer murders linked to cartel violence in the region.
Mexico’s Michoacán state has resumed USDA avocado inspections after a security crackdown following arrests tied to extortion. The move comes as U.S. officials say security forces will continue to protect inspectors, with shipments anticipated to normalize as interdiction measures prevail in the avocado belt.