A wave of deadly violence swept across Mexico following the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, claiming at least 25 lives from the National Guard and leaving communities in fear.
The unrest has shaken at least 20 states as authorities scramble to restore control after the capture and subsequent death of the notorious cartel leader.
El Mencho headed the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, considered one of the most dangerous criminal organisations in Mexico. Before his death, he was the country’s most wanted criminal, responsible for widespread drug trafficking and violence.
Mexican Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said 2,500 soldiers have been sent to the western region to reinforce security and prevent further escalation. The focus is primarily on Jalisco, where the cartel has a stronghold and where most of the violence has erupted.
El Mencho was taken into custody on Sunday after military forces tracked down a romantic partner he had been meeting, Trevilla explained. During the arrest operation, a fierce firefight broke out between his bodyguards and the commando team, leaving him critically wounded.
He later died while being transported from Tapalpa in Jalisco state to Mexico City. The defence ministry confirmed that six of his bodyguards were also killed in the clash, and three soldiers were injured.
According to Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch, the unrest that followed has caused more deaths. “A prison guard, a member of the state prosecutor’s office and 30 members of El Mencho’s criminal organisation were killed,” he said, AFP reported.
President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the operation, describing it as a necessary step to enforce law and order. She emphasised that maintaining peace and protecting citizens remains the government’s top priority.
"There is calm, there is government, there are armed forces and there is a lot of co-ordination," Sheinbaum said.
After news of El Mencho’s death spread, cartel members reacted violently in towns where the Jalisco New Generation Cartel operates. Roads were blocked with nails and spikes, vehicles were commandeered, and buses set on fire to disrupt movement.
Authorities reported that roadblocks were cleared by Monday morning, but the damage to property was widespread. Banks, shops, and other businesses were set ablaze, and residents were advised to stay indoors as streets remained empty on Sunday.
The US State Department had offered a 15 million dollar reward for information leading to El Mencho’s capture. Mexico’s Defence Ministry said the military raid was carried out with support from the National Guard and Air Force. While US intelligence helped provide “complementary information,” Mexico confirmed no American forces were involved in the operation that led to El Mencho’s death, according to AFP.
