Mexico erupts in violence after death of top cartel leader “El Mencho”
Mexico is reeling from a surge of violence after the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, the elusive leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). His capture and subsequent death in custody on Sunday triggered chaos across 20 states, underscoring the cartel’s reach and the fragility of public security in the country.
El Mencho, long considered Mexico’s most wanted man and a top target for U.S. authorities, was seriously wounded during a firefight between his bodyguards and Mexican special forces in Tapalpa, Jalisco. He died while being transported to Mexico City. The Defence Ministry confirmed that six of his guards were killed and three soldiers injured in the operation.
The U.S. had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture. Mike Vigil, former chief of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, described the raid as “one of the most significant actions undertaken in the history of drug trafficking.”
Within hours of the announcement, CJNG members launched coordinated attacks. Businesses were torched, buses hijacked and set ablaze, and roads blocked with spikes and burning vehicles. Banks, pharmacies, and local shops were among the targets.
In Guadalajara, panic spread at the airport when travelers heard gunfire from a nearby highway. Authorities later dismissed rumors of shots inside the terminal, but footage showed passengers running for cover. Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination, saw plumes of smoke rising from burning cars. “It looked like a war zone,” one visitor said.
Sara Morales, a tourist vacationing with her children, recalled being ordered off Las Glorias beach. “I was very afraid because I didn’t know what was happening,” she told El Economista.
Jalisco’s governor declared a “code red,” suspending public transport, cancelling classes, and halting mass events. El Universal reported more than 250 roadblocks across affected states, though officials said 90% had since been cleared. Security forces arrested 25 people, including 11 accused of violent acts and 14 suspected of looting.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm, saying “in most parts of the country, activities are proceeding normally.” She praised the military for the operation, noting U.S. intelligence support had been crucial.
The U.S. State Department advised its citizens to shelter in place in Jalisco, Baja California, Quintana Roo, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas. “El Mencho was a top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The violence echoed scenes from 2019, when the Sinaloa cartel unleashed street battles after the arrest of Ovidio Guzmán López, son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Authorities eventually released Guzmán López to prevent further bloodshed, though he was re-arrested in 2023 and extradited to the U.S.
For many Mexicans, the CJNG’s retaliation is a grim reminder that the fall of a cartel boss often sparks fresh instability. With El Mencho gone, questions remain over who will inherit control of one of the world’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations, and how Mexico will contain the violence that follows.
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