Northeast Wisconsin journey teams discover themselves caught in Mexico amid cartel violence

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (WLUK) — Hundreds of American vacationers, together with a bunch of 44 folks from Northeast Wisconsin, are trapped in Mexico after they have been ordered to shelter in place as a result of violence that has erupted within the streets of the favored vacationer vacation spot of Puerto Vallarta.

It all began Sunday after the Mexican Army performed a raid that killed Nemesio Oseguera, the drug lord often known as “El Mencho.” He was the chief of the highly effective Jalisco New Generation cartel. Oseguera was infamous for trafficking fentanyl, meth and cocaine to the United States and slaying authorities officers who challenged him.

Northeast Wisconsin journey teams discover themselves caught in Mexico amid cartel violence (WLUK)

According to the Mexican navy, greater than 70 folks died within the operation. 25 of these have been members of the Mexican National Guard.

Cartel members responded to Oseguera’s dying by blocking roads, looting and setting hearth to buildings and automobiles, prompting colleges to shut and residents to be advised to remain inside.

This chaos and considerations over safety led to the disruptions and cancellations of flights to and from the Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports, leaving vacationers from Northeast Wisconsin caught.

One native journey group had their journey organized by Steve Krabbe, proprietor of NBS journey group. They arrived Feb. 15 and have been scheduled to come back residence Sunday.

“We were on the bus to the airport yesterday and got about halfway there, and then we noticed black smoke up ahead of us,” Krabbe advised FOX 11 Monday. “The Amstar rep came out to the bus and told us that they were burning some buses and protesting, burning taxis and that type of thing, so they were closing the airport and we had to come back to the resort.”

After a while, the vacationers returned to their rooms, complimentary of the Hotel Riu Palace Pacifico.

Krabbe and Diane Hoslet from De Pere say their family members are apprehensive.

“A lot of friends and family are concerned. We’re just trying to put them at ease that we’re safe and being taken care of here,” Hoslet stated.

“I think they’re actually more worried than we are. We’re here and we don’t feel threatened or anything,” stated Krabbe.

Still, they’re dealing with sudden challenges.

“Now, we’re actually dealing with strange things that you don’t think about. A lot of us are older and need medication, and you know, you parcel that up. Now, we’re actually having them, our rep, is going to go and get medication for us to make it another couple days,” stated Krabbe.

This group is not the one one from Northeast Wisconsin that has been impacted. A group of vacationers tied to Lenny’s Tap is caught on the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, simply three miles south of the place the group with NBS is staying.

“Our bus driver was here ready to go and they stopped him as they have started to close the roads,” a Facebook put up reads. “We couldn’t ask for a more accommodating, attentive staff at Hard Rock Vallarta to make this feel like an extended vacation, instead of what is really happening all around us.”

Another resident from Northeast Wisconsin was headed to Mexico for a trip. Sara Brzezinski landed on the Puerto Vallarta airport because the state of affairs was unfolding.

“At first I was like, ‘Oh, this probably isn’t that serious.’ Then I’m like, as I’m watching it unfold, I was just very grateful that we never un-boarded the plane, because if we would have un-boarded, we would be there,” Brzezinski stated.

As of Monday night, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico continues to be urging American vacationers in Puerto Vallarta, amongst different resort places in Mexico, to shelter in place.

FOX 11 has obtained phrase from Krabbe {that a} jet is on its strategy to get the NBS group Tuesday. They plan to be in another country round midday. According to the group with Lenny’s Tap, they may not get flights residence Monday, however are hoping they’re going to have higher luck Tuesday.