The tranquil, cobblestoned town of Tapalpa, nestled in Jalisco state’s mountains, has long thrived on tourism, sustaining businesses like Maria Dolores Aguirre’s family corner store. However, this peace was shattered when Mexican army forces killed the nation’s most powerful drug lord just kilometres from her home, amidst a flurry of gunshots and overhead helicopters.
Now, 50-year-old Aguirre fears the recent bloodshed will devastate her livelihood and irrevocably alter communities like hers. This concern resonates across the western Mexican state, from its Pacific beaches to Guadalajara, which is set to host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.
