The specter of cartel violence looms over California as chaos erupts just beyond its border. A notorious drug kingpin’s death has sparked a violent backlash in a Mexican border city, raising concerns about potential spillover into the United States.

In Tijuana, perilously close to San Diego, alleged narco-terrorists have ignited vehicles near the border wall, erected roadblocks, and targeted local businesses. This wave of violence followed the killing of Jalisco cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes during a special forces operation in Tapalpa’s mountainous region.

Chilling images capture the aftermath, with a major highway running parallel to the U.S. border left in eerie stillness as law enforcement cautiously approached a smoldering vehicle. The unrest has sent shockwaves throughout Mexico, with the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta suffering significantly from the cartel’s wrath.

The violence has rippled further north along Mexico’s west coast, with media reports highlighting attacks in Baja California, reaching as far as Tijuana, alarmingly close to the U.S. border. The situation remains tense as authorities on both sides of the border brace for potential escalation.

Vengeful gang members quickly brought hell to cities across the country, with the popular tourist resort of Puerto Vallarta bearing the brunt.

Violence has also spread further up the west coast, with local media reports detailing attacks in parts of Baja California and as close to the US as Tijuana.

Reporter Jorge Ventura shared a terrifying insight into the city on Monday, showing multiple cars had been torched within sight of the border wall.

In one clip a burnt-out vehicle with its trunk open was surrounded by armed Mexican soldiers just feet away from the towering fence.

Another video showed a different car engulfed in flames on a major highway running alongside the gateway to America.

Ventura said: “Right next to us is the US-Mexico border wall. About an hour ago cartels burnt a vehicle on this major highway.

“Once again sending a message to the Mexican government, also possibly the US government.” He later warned: “This could be the start of unrest in Tijuana later into the night.”

Local cops reportedly arrested 25 suspected gang members since Sunday over burning cars, setting up blockades and attacking small businesses.

Tijuana is a major border crossing between California and Mexico, with around 200,000 passing through San Ysidro and Otay Mesa every day, around 50 million a year.

The US Customs and Border Protection confirmed on Monday all Southwest entrances are still “open and fully operational” and “there are no planned closures.”

The violence followed the dramatic arrest then killing of Jalisco cartel boss Oseguera Cervantes in a daring raid on Sunday.

Mexico’s Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said intelligence agents hunted him down to a secluded compound through one of his girlfriends.

They discovered the woman was taken to Tapalpa, a mountainside getaway community in Jalisco where Oseguera and his militia were hiding out.

While the girlfriend eventually left the resort, El Mencho and his men remained holed up until the Mexican military deployed its special forces to take them out.

Once the troops got inside, heavily armed men fired at the soldiers, leading to a gunfight and chase in the woods near the resort that resulted in the death of four cartel members.

Three others were critically injured and died while being transported to a hospital in Mexico City, including Oseguera.