Mexico Grapples with Violence After Killing of Cartel Leader ‘El Mencho’
Mexico City – Mexico is confronting a surge of violence following the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Mexican security forces killed Oseguera in a military operation on Sunday, sparking retaliatory attacks across multiple states.
Oseguera, widely considered one of Mexico’s most dangerous criminals, had a $15 million bounty on his head offered by the United States. He was killed after being wounded during a clash with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, the cartel’s founding state. Three other individuals died during the initial confrontation, and two were arrested. Three members of the armed forces were also wounded. Media reports indicate at least nine additional cartel members were killed in the broader operation.
President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the military’s actions in a post on X, urging calm and stating that coordination with state governments was “absolute.” She added that most of the country was operating with “complete normality.”
The CJNG, founded around 2009, has rapidly grown to become one of Mexico’s most formidable criminal organizations, rivaling the once-dominant Sinaloa cartel. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers the CJNG to be as powerful as Sinaloa, with a presence in all 50 U.S. states and a significant role in the trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.
The cartel is known for its aggressive tactics, including attacks on military forces, the use of explosives from drones, and the deployment of landmines. In 2020, the CJNG launched a brazen attack in Mexico City against the then-head of the capital’s police force.
The United States had offered intelligence support for the operation, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who stated that Oseguera was a key target due to his role in fentanyl trafficking. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described the killing as “a great development” for Mexico, the U.S., Latin America, and the world.
The immediate aftermath of Oseguera’s death saw widespread roadblocks with burning vehicles, a common tactic used by cartels to disrupt military operations. Videos circulating on social media showed chaos in Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination, and panic at the city’s airport. Several airlines have suspended flights to and from Puerto Vallarta due to the security situation.
In Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city, burning vehicles blocked roads and businesses closed ahead of its hosting of matches during this summer’s soccer World Cup. The U.S., India, and other countries have issued warnings to their citizens in several Mexican states – Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon – urging them to remain in safe locations.
The operation against Oseguera comes as President Sheinbaum faces increasing pressure from the U.S. to demonstrate results in combating drug trafficking. The Trump administration designated the CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025.
Oseguera Cervantes, 59, had a history with the U.S. justice system, having been convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin in California in 1994 and serving nearly three years in prison. Upon his return to Mexico, he became involved in drug trafficking with Ignacio Coronel Villarreal before forming the CJNG around 2007.