El Mencho Killed in Military Operation

Mexico’s most wanted man, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — better known as “El Mencho” — has been killed during a military operation to arrest him. He died on Sunday while being transported to Mexico City after sustaining serious injuries during clashes between his CJNG cartel members and the Mexican army in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco. Four cartel members were killed in the operation and three army personnel were injured. The US had been providing intelligence to assist the operation, and several armored vehicles and weapons including rocket launchers were seized. United States Department of State

The cartel didn’t take it lightly — CJNG retaliated across eight Mexican states, setting cars on fire, building roadblocks and attacking security forces. Smoke was seen rising over major cities including Guadalajara, and in the tourist hotspot of Puerto Vallarta potentially thousands of tourists are currently trapped amid the unrest. The governor of Jalisco issued a code red warning telling residents to stay home and suspended public transport across the state. The US State Department also issued a shelter-in-place warning for American citizens across multiple Mexican states.

El Mencho was a 59-year-old former police officer who built one of the most feared criminal organisations in the world, responsible for trafficking massive quantities of cocaine, meth and fentanyl into the US. The US had a $15 million reward on his head.

His death is being seen as a significant win for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and could strengthen her relationship with President Trump, who has repeatedly pressured Mexico on security. However, the cartel’s violent response across the country means the situation is far from over — and if it isn’t brought under control quickly, that victory could easily be overshadowed.