A video that spread rapidly across social media this week shows a man carrying a Canadian-branded tote bag walking out of a smashed OXXO convenience store in Puerto Vallarta with a bag of items and a jug of water — without paying. The footage, filmed by local bystanders who confronted him, became a flashpoint in a city already shaken by days of cartel violence.
The context matters. On Feb. 22, Mexican Army forces killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during a raid on a rural compound in Tapalpa, Jalisco. The killing set off immediate retaliation across more than 20 Mexican states. In Puerto Vallarta, cartel members torched buses and cars, blocked roads and shut down public transportation. Businesses closed. Flights were canceled. Thousands of tourists were told to shelter in place. OXXO stores across the city were among the properties burned or damaged in the chaos.
The video of the OXXO incident — originally posted by Instagram user @regiophotographer and reported by Castanet — shows several people entering the damaged store while bystanders shout at them. A few returned the items they had picked up. The man with the Canadian bag did not. When confronted, he reportedly accused one of the men challenging him of being American. He left with the goods.
The clip went viral, drawing sharp reactions online. Many commenters were quick to identify the man as Canadian based on the tote bag, though others pointed out that a bag alone is no proof of nationality. One Facebook commenter wrote that a Canadian would have left money on the counter. Another said she was disgusted and that “real” Canadian visitors who love Puerto Vallarta would never disrespect the community. A few were more skeptical, noting that a man carrying a Canada bag in a foreign country would be an unlikely choice for an actual Canadian.
One commenter offered a more charitable reading: a Mexican acquaintance had reportedly told them the man was a regular customer who left a note saying he would return to pay when things settled down, and that he was taking only essentials — water and a few snacks — for survival.
Authorities have not released details about the identities of those in the video, and no arrests related to the incident have been reported. Local police have been occupied with far larger security challenges this week.
The episode landed in a particularly charged moment for Canadian tourists, tens of thousands of whom were stranded in Puerto Vallarta after flights were canceled by Air Canada, WestJet and other carriers. Puerto Vallarta receives more than 750,000 Canadian visitors annually and is one of the most popular winter destinations for Canadian snowbirds. This year, many had redirected their winter travel there from the United States amid tensions over trade and tariffs — making the timing of the incident, and the mockery that followed online, sting a little more.
As the city begins to return to normal — with flights resuming, buses running again and restaurants reopening — local business owners and residents are taking stock of the damage. The broader question of what El Mencho’s death means for security and tourism in Mexico, including the upcoming World Cup matches in Guadalajara, remains unresolved.
Fast Facts
- The OXXO looting video was originally posted by Instagram user @regiophotographer in Puerto Vallarta
- The man in the video was carrying a Canadian-branded tote bag; his nationality has not been confirmed
- Some bystanders who entered the store returned items when confronted; the man with the bag did not
- Cartel members burned or damaged numerous OXXO stores across Puerto Vallarta during the unrest
- CJNG leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes was killed Feb. 22 in Tapalpa, Jalisco
- Puerto Vallarta receives more than 750,000 Canadian visitors annually
- Air Canada, WestJet and multiple U.S. carriers canceled or suspended flights following the violence
- The city began reopening Feb. 24; some flights resumed; Uber remained unavailable as of Tuesday
Sources: Castanet.net, CBC News, Global News, Yahoo News Canada, KWTX, NBC News