El Mencho Killed in Mexico Military Operation
Mexican security forces have killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, in a military operation in the western state of Jalisco. According to officials, the country’s Defense Department announced the development on Sunday. The death of the alleged leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) marks one of the most significant blows to organized crime in recent years. It comes amid mounting pressure from Donald Trump to intensify action against powerful drug trafficking groups.
Authorities said that the Mexican troops launched the operation in Tapalpa, early Sunday. It targeted Oseguera Cervantes, a former police officer who later became one of the most wanted figures in the global narcotics trade. Officials said that during the capture, he had sustained injuries and died while being transported to Mexico City. Moreover, security forces detained two additional members of the criminal network and seized an arsenal that included armored vehicles and rocket launchers, which is capable of downing aircraft.
“I’ve just been informed that Mexican security forces have killed ‘El Mencho’, one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins”, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said in a post on X. “This is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world. The good guys are stronger than the bad guys”.
Security Concerns Rise Across Jalisco
However, government officials warned that violence quickly escalated across Jalisco following the operation. Criminal groups reportedly erected roadblocks, torched vehicles, and clashed with security forces in multiple municipalities. Consequently, authorities reported that at least 21 highways were blocked, although five have since reopened.
Officials also confirmed that several buildings has sustained damage during the unrest which includes nearly 20 branches of Banco del Bienestar. Meanwhile, three members of the armed forces were injured during confrontations and are currently receiving medical treatment.
In response, Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro urged the residents to remain indoors. “We remain in Code Red. We reiterate the recommendation to avoid leaving your homes. The clashes are occurring in several federal entities”, he said.
U.S. Embassy in Mexico Issues Shelter Advisories
At the same time, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico also issued shelter-in-place advisories for American citizens in affected regions. The regions includes Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Chapala. The embassy warned that ongoing security operations and criminal activity posed heightened risks.
Oseguera Cervantes carried a $15 million U.S. bounty and rose to prominence after the arrest of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. He was the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel. Over the past decade and a half, CJNG expanded from a regional crime group into a transnational trafficking organization with operations that extend beyond Mexico’s borders.
Web Resources on El Mencho’s Death and Mexican Military Operation
1. BBC.com: Mexico’s most wanted drug lord ‘El Mencho’ killed in military operation
2. CNN.com: Mexico’s most-wanted drug leader killed in military operation
3. TheGuardian.com: Violence erupts after Mexican security forces kill drug cartel boss ‘El Mencho’
4. X.com: Christopher Landau Post after killing El Mencho