The drug lord, aka Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”, was killed by the Mexican Army in an operation in Jalisco on Sunday, following which violence broke out in many parts of the state with roadblocks and fires. El Mencho was one of the world's most wanted fugitives.
The successful strike effectively decapitates Mexico’s most dominant criminal organisation and provides the Mexican government with a high-profile victory to present to the US administration, which had offered up to USD 15 million for his capture.
Oseguera Cervantes was wounded in an operation to capture him on Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, about a two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara, and he died while being flown to Mexico City, the Defense Department said in a statement.
The state is the base of the cartel known for trafficking huge quantities of fentanyl and other drugs to the United States.
The operation —
During the operation, troops came under fire and killed four people at the location. Three more people, including Oseguera Cervantes, were wounded and later died, the statement said. Two others were arrested, and armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and other arms were seized. Three members of the armed forces were wounded and are receiving medical treatment.
Violence erupts with roadblocks, burning vehicles —
The killing of El Mencho set off several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states, tactics commonly used by the cartels to block military operations. Jalisco canceled school in the state for Monday.
Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, and people sprinting through the airport of the state's capital in panic. On Sunday afternoon, Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to Puerto Vallarta “due to an ongoing security situation” and advised customers not to go to their airport. In Guadalajara, the state capital, burning vehicles blocked roads.
Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus told residents to stay at home and suspended public transportation.
What does El Mencho’s death mean for US?
As mentioned above, the US State Department had offered a reward of up to USD 15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, is one of the most powerful and fastest-growing criminal organisations in Mexico, which started in 2009.
In February, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organisation.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, like her predecessor, has criticised the “kingpin” strategy of previous administrations that took out cartel leaders only to trigger explosions of violence as cartels fractured. While she has remained popular in Mexico, security is a persistent concern, and since the US President Donald Trump took office a year ago, she has been under tremendous pressure to show results against drug trafficking.
On Sunday, Sheinbaum applauded Mexican security forces and called for calm in a post on X.
A Jalisco state official who requested anonymity said that a member of the National Guard died in Tapalpa during the operation, a jail guard was killed at a lockup in Puerto Vallarta when prisoners rioted, and an agent from the Jalisco state prosecutor's office was killed in Guadalajara.
US, Canada warn its citizens —
The U.S. State Department warned U.S. citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon states to remain in safe places due to the ongoing security operations. Canada's embassy in Mexico warned its citizens in Puerto Vallarta to shelter in place and generally to keep a low profile in Jalisco.
US Embassy’s statement on Op —
The US Embassy in Mexico said on X that the operation was carried out by Mexican special forces “within the framework of bilateral cooperation, with U.S. authorities providing complementary intelligence.”
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