The Mexican army announced Sunday that it had killed powerful drug lord Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in an operation that triggered a wave of retaliatory violence across the country.
The Operation
Oseguera, 59, was wounded during a clash with soldiers in Tapalpa, Jalisco state, and died while being flown to Mexico City, according to the army’s statement. He had been one of the most wanted men in Mexico, with a $15 million US bounty on his head.
The raid was carried out using Mexico’s military intelligence alongside “complementary information” from US authorities. The White House confirmed it provided intelligence support. Six suspected cartel gunmen were killed, three soldiers wounded, and two suspects arrested. Weapons seized included rocket launchers capable of downing aircraft and destroying armored vehicles.
Retaliatory Violence
In response, cartel gunmen blocked more than 20 roads in western Jalisco, burning cars and trucks. Violence spread to Michoacan and the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, forcing at least eight states to suspend in-person classes and prompting courts to close where necessary.
Jalisco, set to host four World Cup games this summer, cancelled all large public events. Streets in Guadalajara emptied as businesses, pharmacies, and gas stations shut down.
International Reaction
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau hailed the operation, calling Oseguera “one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins” and describing his death as “a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world.”
Meanwhile, Guatemala reinforced sections of its frontier with Mexico to prevent cross-border incursions. The US State Department urged citizens in affected areas to shelter in place, while Canada issued travel warnings for Jalisco, Guerrero, and Michoacan. Airlines, including Air Canada, cancelled flights to Puerto Vallarta and other destinations.
Background
Founded in 2009, the CJNG grew into one of Mexico’s most violent drug trafficking organizations, accused by the US of sending cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into its territory. Oseguera’s death marks one of the most significant blows to organized crime in Mexico since the capture of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and Ismael Zambada of the Sinaloa cartel.
Conclusion
While Oseguera’s death is a major victory for Mexican and US authorities, the immediate surge in violence underscores the cartel’s entrenched power. The coming weeks will test Mexico’s ability to stabilize Jalisco and other affected regions, as the country braces for both security challenges and international scrutiny ahead of the World Cup.
