STORY: Burned vehicles and trailer remains littered Mexican highways on Tuesday (February 24) following a series of blockades that disrupted major roads in western Mexico. National Guard and Regional Police elements cordoned off affected areas as traffic began resuming, with vehicles navigating around debris on the roadways.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that approximately seven blockades were registered on Tuesday, all of which were lifted, and indicated that burned vehicles would be removed to clean the highways. Sheinbaum said she had spoken personally with the governors of Jalisco and Michoacan states, and that authorities were working to normalize school activities on February 25, while Guadalajara airport and Puerto Vallarta were gradually resuming operations.

The blockades and vehicle burnings occurred following the capture and killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," by Mexican security forces on Sunday (February 22). Cartel members coordinated the roadblocks and arson attacks in response to the government operation against Oseguera, as drug cartels frequently employ such tactics to pressure authorities.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: AERIAL VIEW OF ROADBLOCKS / BURNED VEHICLES AND DEBRIS ON MEXICAN HIGHWAYS AFTER CARTEL BLOCKADES / SOUNDBITES FROM MEXICAN PRESIDENT CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM ANNOUNCING CLEANUP OPERATIONS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: LEON-GUADALAJARA HIGHWAY, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 24, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VEHICLE BURNED IN BLOCKADES

2. VARIOUS OF VEHICLES AVOIDING DEBRIS OF BURNT TRAILERS

3. VARIOUS OF VEHICLE STILL BURNING

4. TRAILER PASSING NEXT TO BURNT VEHICLE

5. TRAILERS PASSING BY OPEN TOLL BOOTH WITH NO PERSONNEL OPERATING

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 24, 2026) (MEXICAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN PRESIDENT, CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, SAYING:

[SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER VARIOUS SHOTS OF SHEINBAUM]

"There were some blockades, about seven blockades. Let me see if they give me the exact number, they mentioned it this morning. All of them were lifted. There are still some burned vehicles on the side of the roads. Today, they're going to be removed to clean up all the highways. Yesterday I spoke personally with the governor of Jalisco, with the governor of Michoacan. Today classes haven't been called yet, but tomorrow we're looking to normalize activities. At Guadalajara airport, practically all flights have returned. In Puerto Vallarta also little by little things are normalizing."

LEON-GUADALAJARA HIGHWAY, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 24, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

7. NATIONAL GUARD AND REGIONAL POLICE OFFICERS CORDONING OFF BURNED VEHICLES

8. BURNED VEHICLE

9. NATIONAL GUARD OFFICER

10. ARMED FORCES OFFICERS CORDONING OFF THE DEBRIS OF BURNED VEHICLE

11. VARIOUS OF BURNED BUS

ZAMORA-GUADALAJARA HIGHWAY, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 23, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

12. DRONE SHOT OF BURNED TRAILER BLOCKING HIGHWAY

13. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF TRAFFIC BLOCKED