In the sun-soaked resorts of Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico, what was meant to be a peaceful vacation has turned into a nightmare for American tourists caught in the crosshairs of escalating cartel violence. On February 23, 2026, Natalie Belluccia, a model from New York, shared harrowing details from her lockdown at a luxury resort, describing the situation as feeling like "a war zone." Her account comes in the wake of a high-stakes operation that resulted in the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico's most powerful and violent drug trafficking organizations.
Belluccia, who posted videos on Instagram under the handle @belluccia on February 22, 2026, explained the dire circumstances preventing her and other guests from leaving the property. "It's not possible to get out right now because first we're not allowed to leave the resort under any circumstance so we're locked down in the resort," she said. "And even if we went out on the streets the cartel would stop us and force us to get out of the car and light the car on fire. So the whole city is under lockdown. No one is going out because everyone is scared of getting stopped by the cartel."
The lockdown, according to Belluccia, stems directly from the fallout of El Mencho's death, which Mexican authorities confirmed earlier that week. El Mencho, a fugitive on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's most-wanted list since 2015, had evaded capture for years while overseeing a cartel responsible for thousands of deaths, including rival gang members, journalists, and civilians. His organization has been linked to brutal tactics such as roadside ambushes, mass graves, and attacks on security forces, contributing to Mexico's ongoing drug war that has claimed over 400,000 lives since 2006.
The operation that killed El Mencho was a joint effort between Mexican federal forces and U.S. intelligence agencies, the White House confirmed on February 22, 2026. According to a White House spokesperson, the U.S. provided "intelligence support" to Mexican authorities, marking a significant escalation in bilateral cooperation against cartels. This assistance reportedly included surveillance data and logistical tips that pinpointed El Mencho's location in a remote area of Jalisco state, leading to a raid on February 20, 2026. Mexican officials described the mission as a "decisive blow" to organized crime, though they did not immediately detail the circumstances of his death.
For Belluccia, however, the U.S. involvement has only amplified her sense of vulnerability. "I do feel like more of a target, knowing that we are involved, and I feel like the cartel is a little angry that the U.S. is involved, so I'm scared that I'm gonna be targeted more," she told her followers in the Instagram video. "I think that we should have been warned in some sort of way, or at least they could have put out a travel advisory to not travel to Mexico during this time if they knew they were gonna do something like this." Her comments highlight growing concerns among American travelers about the risks of vacationing in cartel-influenced regions, even in popular tourist areas like Nuevo Nayarit, which borders the state of Nayarit and is known for its beaches and resorts.
"It is definitely really scary. I hope that it ends soon. This is supposed to be like a vacation, a sanctuary where everything is peaceful. And then now it's like I'm currently in a war zone."
Belluccia's predicament is compounded by weather back home. "I can't even go home even if I wanted to because New York is in a snowstorm blizzard," she added, underscoring the irony of being stranded abroad amid both violence and natural disruptions. The resort, which she did not name in her posts, has imposed strict measures, including armed guards at entrances and restrictions on movement, in response to reports of cartel retaliation across the region.
Reuters independently verified Belluccia's videos by cross-referencing the visible buildings, exterior and interior designs with satellite imagery and on-the-ground photos of Nuevo Nayarit resorts. The metadata from the original files also confirmed the posting date of February 22, 2026, lending credibility to her firsthand account. Local media in Mexico echoed similar reports of heightened security and temporary lockdowns in tourist zones, with some outlets citing anonymous sources within the CJNG claiming the cartel would seek revenge against U.S. interests.
The death of El Mencho represents a potential turning point in Mexico's battle against drug cartels, but experts caution that it may trigger short-term chaos. The CJNG, founded in 2010 as a splinter from the Milenio Cartel, has expanded rapidly under El Mencho's leadership, controlling key fentanyl and methamphetamine production routes into the United States. His elimination could lead to power struggles within the organization, as seen after the 2017 death of another cartel leader, which sparked waves of violence in Michoacán state.
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that while the intelligence shared was crucial, they had anticipated some backlash but not widespread disruptions to tourism. The State Department issued a Level 3 travel advisory for Jalisco and Nayarit states in late 2025, urging Americans to reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping risks, but no specific warning was released prior to the operation. "We continuously monitor the situation and update advisories as needed," a department spokesperson said in a statement on February 23, 2026.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office in October 2024, praised the security forces involved in the raid during a press conference in Mexico City. "This is a victory for the Mexican people and our sovereignty," she said, emphasizing that the operation was led by Mexican marines with no direct U.S. military presence on the ground. However, critics in Mexico, including human rights groups, have raised questions about the raid's conduct, alleging possible excessive force based on unconfirmed reports from local witnesses who claimed hearing gunfire and explosions in the area.
Belluccia's experience is not isolated. Other U.S. tourists in nearby Riviera Nayarit resorts reported similar restrictions via social media, with some flights from Puerto Vallarta International Airport delayed due to security checks. The Mexican Tourism Ministry stated that while isolated incidents occur, the vast majority of the country's 130 million annual visitors, including over 20 million from the U.S., enjoy safe travels. "We are working closely with authorities to ensure the safety of all guests," a ministry official said.
As the situation unfolds, the broader implications for U.S.-Mexico relations and cross-border tourism loom large. The fentanyl crisis, which kills over 100,000 Americans annually according to Centers for Disease Control data, has intensified calls for aggressive anti-cartel measures. Yet, events like this raid risk straining tourism, an industry that generates $30 billion yearly for Mexico's economy. Travel experts predict a dip in bookings to Pacific coast destinations in the coming months, though long-term stability could improve if the CJNG fragments.
For now, Belluccia and others remain hunkered down, awaiting signs that the immediate threat has passed. Mexican authorities have deployed additional troops to Nayarit, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City is offering consular assistance to affected citizens. As one resort guest, speaking anonymously to local reporters, put it, "We came for paradise, but got a front-row seat to hell." The hope is that calm returns soon, allowing vacations to resume their promised serenity.
In the days ahead, investigations into El Mencho's death will likely reveal more about the operation's intricacies, while travelers weigh the allure of Mexico's beaches against its persistent undercurrents of danger. Belluccia's story serves as a stark reminder of how global security operations can ripple into everyday lives, far from the front lines.