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According to a statement by Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense, the operation was planned and executed by special forces of the Mexican army.

The release, posted on the Mexican embassy in the U.S. X account, said that during the operation, Mexican military personnel were attacked, "and in defense of their physical integrity, they repelled the aggression."

It said that four members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel were killed at the scene, while three others, who were severely wounded, lost their lives during their airlift to Mexico City. That included Mexican drug lord "El ​Mencho."

As well, two other members of the cartel were arrested, and various weapons and armoured vehicles were seized, including rocket launchers capable of shooting down aircraft and destroying armoured vehicles, the release said.

The release added that "complementary information was provided by U.S. Authorities" to help in the operation.

Global Affairs says 4,672 Canadians are currently registered as being in Jalisco state, and 18,703 are registered as being in Mexico, according to its registration of Canadians abroad system.

Registration is voluntary, so the numbers are only an estimate.

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Global Affairs officials are in close contact with local authorities and ready to provide consular assistance to Canadians in Jalisco.

"Canada is closely monitoring the serious and rapidly evolving security situation in Jalisco State," Anand said in a statement posted on X.

"We are deeply alarmed by reports of violence following a major security operation," she added.

Planes heading from Canada to Puerto Vallarta have been turning around mid-flight, seen on the flight tracking website FlightRadar24. 

Air Canada said in a post on X it has temporarily suspended operations in Puerto Vallarta, "Due to an ongoing security situation.” 

“We are monitoring the situation and in contact with local authorities who are working to resolve the issue,” the post said. 

Flights to Puerto Vallarta from Vancouver on WestJet and Flair Airlines have also been cancelled.

Global Affairs Canada has updated its travel advisory for the coastal city of Puerto Vallarta and other parts of the Mexican state of Jalisco following a sudden explosion of violence that has seen road blockades with burning vehicles and clashes between federal authorities and armed groups.

The advisory says there is a "shelter in place order" in Puerto Vallarta and that "all taxi and rideshare services" are suspended. It advises all Canadians in Jalisco state to keep a low profile, monitor media and follow the orders of local authorities.

Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus Navarro posted a statement on social media platform X saying that the violence was triggered by a federal operation that unfolded earlier in the day that targeted the municipality of Tapalpa, which sits roughly 300 kilometres southeast of Puerto Vallarta.

"As a result of this operation, individuals have burned vehicles and blocked roads in various parts of the region and other areas of Jalisco to hinder the flow of people."

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State ‌Christopher Landau called ​the reported killing of ​Mexican drug lord "El ​Mencho" a "great development for Mexico, ⁠the US, Latin America, and ‌the world."

"I’m watching the scenes of violence ​from ⁠Mexico with great sadness ⁠and ⁠concern," ⁠Landau ​added in a ​post ⁠on X.

The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million US for information leading to the cartel leader’s arrest.

The Secretariat of National Defence said in a statement that Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), died from injuries while he was being transferred to Mexico City following a clash with military special forces.

A federal official told The Associated Press that the Mexican army killed El Mencho during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco, where the cartel that traffics huge amounts of fentanyl and cocaine into the United States is based. 

Toronto resident Tim Spencer, 39, who is vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, said fires started flaring in the city early in the morning. He said he went up to the roof of the Villa Divina hotel and saw corner stores and cars in flames.

"Everything’s just covered in smoke here at the moment,” he said. "Grey and smoggy everywhere and the smell, it’s just like that electrical fuel, gross fire smell."

Spencer said his flight to Denver, which would have then taken him to Toronto, was cancelled Sunday morning. "I’ve never really seen anything like this before in my life, so it’s a little bit horrific," he said.

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