Mexico’s most wanted man and leader of the notorious Jalisco New Generation cartel, CJNG, was shot dead during an operation aimed at apprehending him. The killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” sparked widespread unrest in several states across the country with cars and houses set on fire and roads blocked.

El Mencho was seriously injured in clashes between his gang and the army on Sunday and died after being transported to the capital, Mexico City. Four members of the CJNG were killed in the city of Tapalpa in the state of Jalisco, and three soldiers were injured.

The United States had provided Mexico with information that facilitated the operation. According to BBC, the CJNG responded by setting vehicles on fire, building roadblocks, and attacking security forces in eight states. The U.S. Department of State issued a warning for American citizens in the states of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, and certain areas of Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon.

Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo urged people to remain “calm.” In a post on X, she wrote that “in most parts of the country, activities are proceeding as normal.”

Former Police Officer

El Mencho was a 59-year-old former police officer who headed a major criminal organization responsible for smuggling huge quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl to the United States. The U.S. Department of State had offered a reward of $15 million for information leading to his capture.

In a statement, the Mexican Ministry of Defense says the operation was planned and carried out by the country’s special forces. Aircraft from the Mexican Air Force and National Guard were also used. Several armored vehicles and weapons such as rocket launchers were reportedly seized during the operation.

On social media, former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described El Mencho as “one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug lords.” Landau calls his death “a significant development for Mexico, the United States, Latin America, and the world.”

World Cup

The CJNG cartel had its original power base in Jalisco in 2010 and is now present across all of Mexico. The cartel has become known for a string of attacks against security forces and public officials. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), CJNG competes with the powerful Sinaloa cartel, which has a presence in all 50 U.S. states.

Since October 2024, 4,182 kg of fentanyl have been seized in the U.S., according to figures from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. 96 percent was stopped at the southwestern border with Mexico. Trump has previously threatened to deploy the U.S. military in Mexico to halt the influx.

This summer, the football World Cup will be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with matches scheduled in cities including Guadalajara, where violent scenes unfolded on Sunday. United Airlines, American Airlines, and Air Canada canceled flights to, among other places, Guadalajara. A Delta Airlines flight en route to Guadalajara from Atlanta was diverted to Austin.

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