FLASH
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A large-scale military operation in the western state of Jalisco has led to the death of Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Mexican authorities confirmed that the 59-year-old was seriously injured during a shootout with the military and died while being transported by helicopter to Mexico City.
Operation and armed clashes
According to Mexico's Defense Ministry, the operation killed seven cartel members, wounded three soldiers, and arrested two other suspected members of the CJNG. Security forces also seized heavy weapons, including rocket launchers capable of hitting aircraft and armored vehicles.
The operation came amid growing pressure from the United States on the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum to intensify its crackdown on drug cartels. American authorities had provided additional information on Oseguera's location.
Wave of violence in several countries
In the immediate aftermath of the operation, violence erupted in at least six states. Gunmen burned vehicles, blocked highways and set up roadblocks, mainly in the north and west of the country. In Guadalajara, shots were reported near the international airport and the terminals were evacuated, while there were also disruptions in Puerto Vallarta.
Several airlines, including Air Canada, United Airlines and American Airlines, temporarily suspended flights to affected areas. The US Embassy in Mexico urged citizens to seek safe shelter.
A key figure in organized crime
Oseguera, born in 1966 in the state of Michoacan, had gone from being an immigrant to the United States and a former police officer to one of the most powerful figures in organized crime in Mexico. He founded the CJNG after a rift with the Milenio cartel and declared war on the Sinaloa Cartel, which is linked to Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
According to the US State Department, the CJNG operates in almost all of Mexican territory and is involved in drug trafficking, extortion, human trafficking, oil theft and weapons. The US had put a reward of over $15 million for the capture of “El Mencho”.
Fear of escalation
Experts warn that his death could spark a new wave of clashes over control of territory and trafficking networks. Since 2006, an estimated 450,000 people have died in Mexico as a result of cartel-related violence, while more than 100,000 are missing.
Authorities remain on high alert as the government tries to prevent further destabilization following the elimination of one of the most wanted crime figures in the region.
The US role in eliminating “El Mencho”
The United States provided intelligence support to the Mexican government in a major operation that ended with the killing of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the White House confirmed on Sunday.
"The United States provided intelligence support to the Mexican government to assist in an operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico, in which Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes, a top leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was eliminated," spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on the X platform.
According to Leavitt, “El Mencho” was a major target for Mexico and the US, as one of the largest traffickers of fentanyl into the United States. She recalled that President Donald Trump had declared the CJNG a foreign terrorist organization last year.
Three other cartel members were also killed, three were wounded and two were arrested in the same operation, she added. Leavitt praised the cooperation of the Mexican military and the successful execution of the operation.
Earlier, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, former ambassador to Mexico, welcomed the operation, calling it a "very important development" for Mexico, the US and Latin America.
The killing sparked immediate violent reactions in several states where the CJNG operates, including Tamaulipas, Michoacán and Nayarit. Authorities reported roadblocks, burning vehicles and armed clashes.
Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, called for calm after the operation and the ensuing backlash.
"There is full coordination with the governments of all countries; we must remain informed and calm," she declared.
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