Whole areas of western Mexico have been all but shut down following a surge in cartel violence sparked by a military raid that killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” on . Schools were closed in several Mexican states, and foreign governments have advised their citizens to remain indoors following the death of the drug lord.
The 59-year-old cartel leader was killed during a shootout after the Mexican military attempted to capture him in a raid supported by intelligence from Washington. The United States has been urging Mexico to take more aggressive action against groups trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
Mexico’s defence minister, Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, said authorities ascertained vital information on El Mencho’s whereabouts after a visit by a romantic partner. The operation to capture him took place in Tapalpa, Jalisco, approximately two hours southwest of Guadalajara.
New details emerged on , revealing the intensity of the firefight. Mexico’s security minister, Garcia Harfuch, stated that 25 members of the national guard had been killed since the operation began. During the operation, troops engaged in a shootout, resulting in the deaths of four individuals at the location. Three more people, including Oseguera Cervantes, were wounded and later died, according to a statement from the Defence Department. Two alleged cartel members were also arrested, and authorities seized armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and other weaponry.
The operation immediately triggered a wave of violence, with gunmen blocking major roads, torching cars and buses, and clashing with government forces. Attacks were reported in 20 of Mexico’s 31 states, according to officials. La Jornada, a Mexican newspaper, reported at least 26 people had been killed in the unrest, which was centered in the western state of Jalisco, including a pregnant woman reportedly caught in a shootout between troops and cartel fighters.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro urged the state’s 8 million citizens to stay at home. Public transport services were suspended. Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco and Mexico’s second-largest city, was almost completely shut down as residents sheltered indoors. Armed men were seen torching vehicles in the city center, which is scheduled to be a host city for the 2026 World Cup.
The violence extended to tourist destinations. Video footage showed smoke rising over Puerto Vallarta, a popular resort city on the Pacific coast. Most flights into the city were suspended, and international airlines cancelled dozens of trips. Authorities issued advisories urging people to stay indoors, and routes to airports were potentially blocked, according to the UK Foreign Office. The US embassy in Mexico City also issued a security alert, advising citizens to “shelter in place” in affected regions.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for calm and stated on that all roadblocks had been cleared.
While less internationally known than the Sinaloa cartel led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is notorious in Mexico for its displays of ultraviolence and its extensive weapons arsenal. Founded approximately 16 years ago, the cartel has been accused of attempting to assassinate Mexican government officials.
The exact circumstances of El Mencho’s death remain unclear. The Mexican defence ministry stated that special forces troops from the army and national guard launched an operation in Tapalpa to capture him. During the operation, “military personnel came under attack” and returned fire. El Mencho was wounded in the shootout and died while being airlifted to Mexico City.
Washington had offered a $15 million reward for his capture, and the White House confirmed that the US provided intelligence support to the operation. Senior US officials celebrated the killing, which follows months of pressure from the previous administration over the influx of drugs and migrants across the 1,954-mile border between the two countries. The previous administration had designated the Jalisco cartel as a “foreign terrorist organisation” and even threatened direct military action against cartels.
Christopher Landau, the deputy secretary of state, described El Mencho as “one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins.”
The killing of El Mencho may relieve pressure on President Sheinbaum, but it also creates a power vacuum within the cartel. Sheinbaum has previously criticised the “war on drugs” strategy, arguing that military action often leads to increased violence and the emergence of new cartel leaders.
Chris Dalby, an organised crime expert, highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the cartel’s future. “If no one can [fill the void], if the CJNG finally splinters, you have four or five different lieutenants with the manpower, the weaponry and the criminal empires to build their own fiefdoms – and that could plunge Mexico into almost record levels of violence,” Dalby said.
Some sources have suggested El Mencho’s stepson, Juan Carlos, as a potential successor capable of maintaining control of the cartel. “If [he] can unite the CJNG we may avoid that kind of civil war,” Dalby said, although he cautioned that this outcome was not guaranteed.
