Mexico’s Most Wanted Drug Lord ‘El Mencho’ Killed in Military Operation
Mexico’s most wanted drug lord, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” has been killed during a major security operation, the country’s Defense Ministry announced Sunday.
Oseguera, the 59-year-old leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), died after being seriously injured in clashes between his supporters and Mexican forces. He was being transported to Mexico City following his capture when he succumbed to his injuries, officials said.
The operation took place in the town of Tapalpa in Jalisco state, where four CJNG members were killed. Three Mexican army personnel were also injured during the confrontation.
Mexican authorities said the mission was planned and executed by special forces, with support from the Mexican Air Force and National Guard. Officials reported that armored vehicles and heavy weapons, including rocket launchers, were seized. The United States provided intelligence that assisted in the operation.
Following news of Oseguera’s death, cartel gunmen retaliated by setting vehicles on fire, blocking highways and attacking security forces in at least eight states. Plumes of smoke were seen rising over cities including Guadalajara.
In the coastal resort city of Puerto Vallarta, thousands of tourists were reportedly stranded as violence spread across parts of Jalisco. The state’s governor, Pablo Lemus Navarro, urged residents to remain indoors under a “code red” warning, and public transportation was suspended.
President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo called for calm, writing on social media that most areas of the country were operating normally despite the unrest.
The CJNG, formed around 2010, grew into one of Mexico’s most violent and powerful criminal organizations, trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States. U.S. authorities had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Oseguera’s capture.
El Mencho, a former police officer, was widely regarded as one of the world’s most ruthless drug kingpins. His death marks a significant blow to the cartel, though security experts warn that violent reprisals or a power struggle within the organization could follow.
