The Ministry of Defense of Mexico officially announced the elimination of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as "El Mencho." He was the head of the country's largest drug cartel — the "Jalisco New Generation Cartel" (CJNG) and was killed as a result of an operation by army special forces in the state of Jalisco.
According to information from the defense department, security forces engaged in a shootout with cartel members after being attacked. As a result of the confrontation, four criminals were neutralized at the operation site, and three others died from their injuries during an emergency helicopter evacuation to Mexico City. Meanwhile, three military personnel were injured.
The death of "El Mencho" triggered a surge of violence that quickly spread beyond Jalisco and affected neighboring regions. Mass unrest occurred in several states: armed clashes with police, arson of commercial properties, and road blockades using burning vehicles. In light of the situation, authorities urged citizens to stay home, educational institutions suspended their activities, and foreign diplomatic missions issued warnings about potential risks to their citizens.
To stabilize the situation, federal authorities mobilized additional security forces and established over 250 checkpoints across the country. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum noted that the actions of the security forces were fully coordinated with local authorities.
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, who was 60 years old, topped the list of the most wanted drug lords. According to the U.S. State Department, "El Mencho" controlled major trafficking routes for cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. His cartel, CJNG, is known for its extreme violence, involvement in the murders of hundreds of rivals and law enforcement officers, as well as organizing assassination attempts on high-ranking officials. Previously, U.S. authorities announced a reward of $15 million for information leading to his capture.
