A wave of unrest has erupted across Mexico following the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartel, during a military operation targeting his arrest.
The Mexican Defence Ministry confirmed that El Mencho died after being seriously injured in clashes between his supporters and army forces on Sunday in the town of Tapalpa, central-western Jalisco. Four CJNG members were killed in the operation, while three army personnel sustained injuries.
Retaliation for the drug lord’s death has triggered violence in at least a dozen states, with CJNG operatives reportedly blocking roads using burning vehicles. Eyewitnesses captured footage of plumes of smoke rising over several cities, including Guadalajara, one of the host cities for the upcoming Fifa World Cup.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro declared a code red across the state, suspending public transport, cancelling mass events, and closing schools. Tourists in the resort town of Puerto Vallarta described the streets as resembling a “war zone.”
According to the Mexican security cabinet, around 250 roadblocks were reported nationwide, with 65 in Jalisco alone. By the latest updates, four blockades remained active in the state. Authorities have arrested 25 individuals: 11 for involvement in violent acts and 14 for alleged looting and pillaging. Numerous shops were set ablaze, and about 20 bank branches were attacked during the unrest.
President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasised “absolute co-ordination” between federal and state authorities and urged citizens to remain “calm and informed.” She added that most regions of the country were continuing normal activities. Several airlines, including Air Canada, United Airlines, and American Airlines, have cancelled flights to Jalisco.
The US government issued a shelter-in-place advisory for its citizens in five Mexican states: Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon. The UK government warned visitors in Jalisco of “serious security incidents” and urged extreme caution.
The US assisted Mexican authorities with intelligence for the operation, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. She described El Mencho as “a top target for the Mexican and United States government, as one of the primary traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland.”
El Mencho, 59, a former police officer, had led a sprawling criminal network responsible for smuggling significant quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the US. The US State Department had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.
The Mexican Defence Ministry described the operation as “planned and executed” by the country’s special forces. Former DEA chief of international operations, Mike Vigil, told CBS it was “one of the most significant actions undertaken in the history of drug trafficking.”
The death of El Mencho has sent shockwaves through Mexico, igniting nationwide violence and marking a major milestone in the fight against transnational drug cartels.
