Violence Erupts Across Mexico Following Death of Cartel Leader ‘El Mencho’
TAPALPA, MEXICO – More than 60 people have been killed across 20 Mexican states in the days following the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The violence underscores the deep instability gripping Mexico despite recent government claims of declining homicide rates.
El Mencho was killed on Sunday in a shootout with authorities in the outskirts of Tapalpa, approximately 100 miles south of Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco. Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla stated that El Mencho and two bodyguards were seriously injured in the firefight and died while being transported to Mexico City.
The operation to capture El Mencho involved tracking one of his romantic partners to a hideout in Tapalpa.
In the immediate aftermath of the cartel leader’s death, CJNG members unleashed a wave of violence, erecting over 250 roadblocks across the country and setting vehicles ablaze. A pregnant woman was among those killed during shootouts between National Guard personnel and cartel members in Zapopan, where vehicles were being stopped and set on fire at the intersection of Avenida de la Mancha and Covadonga. Twenty-five National Guard soldiers, agents, police officers, and 34 cartel members were also killed in related incidents. A riot at a state prison in Puerto Vallarta resulted in the death of a guard.
The United States confirmed its support for the operation and praised the Mexican army’s success. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a shelter-in-place order for personnel in eight cities and the state of Michoacan, advising American citizens to do the same.
El Mencho, one of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) most wanted criminals, faced a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest. He was a key figure in trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States and was known for attacks against Mexican government officials.
The CJNG was formed in 2009 as a splinter group from the Milenio Cartel.
Despite the recent surge in violence, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has highlighted a reported 40% decrease in daily homicides since she took office. Government data indicates a drop in the homicide rate to 17.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, down from 29.1 per 100,000 in 2018 and 25.4 per 100,000 in 2024.
Sheinbaum’s government has extradited numerous cartel leaders to the U.S. and increased border enforcement, while consistently opposing foreign military intervention in Mexico.
