Mexico City (TDI): One of Mexico’s most notorious drug lords, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (also known as El Mencho), head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed on Sunday during a military operation, sparking retaliatory violence across several states.
The raid, conducted by Mexican special forces in Tapalpa, Jalisco, on Mexico’s Pacific coast, left Oseguera critically injured; he later died in custody, the Mexico Defense Ministry said. The 60-year-old’s body was transported to Mexico City under heavy security.
Reports indicated that a US-led task force provided intelligence support for the operation. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the Mexican military for their “cooperation and successful execution” of the mission.
Following news of El Mencho’s death, cartel members staged violent reprisals, including burning vehicles and torching businesses in at least six states. No civilian casualties were reported, but the chaos caused disruptions in popular areas such as Puerto Vallarta, where flights by Air Canada, United Airlines, Aeromexico, and American Airlines were suspended, Reuters reported.
Oseguera, a former police officer, founded CJNG, which has grown into one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations. Under his leadership, the cartel diversified into drug trafficking, fuel theft, extortion, human smuggling, and sophisticated financial crimes. CJNG has also been noted for employing drones in attacks on civilians to expand its territorial control.
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Sunday’s raid represents one of the most significant blows against Mexican drug cartels in recent years, following the previous captures of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman and Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, both now serving sentences in US prisons.
President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized that most activities across the country continued as normal, though some states suspended school for safety precautions. Sheinbaum also pledged to maintain Mexico’s sovereignty while deepening cooperation with the US to combat organized crime.
Security experts warn that the death of El Mencho could trigger violent internal struggles within CJNG. “There will definitely be skirmishes between the various factions, and these spasms of violence could last for years,” said Carlos Olivo.
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The United States praised the operation, with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau calling it a “great development” for both Mexico and the region. The raid and its aftermath underscore the ongoing challenges in Mexico’s fight against powerful cartels while balancing cooperation with the US.
