Aftermath of El Mencho's Death: 55 People Killed
At least 55 people have died in various regions of Mexico following an operation that killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The victims include 25 security personnel who died in retaliatory attacks by the criminal group.
Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar Garcia Harfuch, stated that a wave of violence broke out in 16 states after the operation against El Mencho.
“A total of 25 security personnel died in attacks by the cartel, while 30 cartel members were killed in the operation,” said Garcia Harfuch, as quoted by Anadolu.
The cartel also blocked 85 highways in 11 states. Authorities responded quickly, and traffic on major routes gradually returned to normal.
The unrest has impacted the travel and tourism sector in western Mexico.
In Guadalajara, one of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup, about 1,000 tourists were temporarily stranded while visiting the city’s zoo. Authorities deployed dozens of buses to evacuate and provide logistics for the visitors.
Flights in Puerto Vallarta were canceled, and several public events, including a concert by American singer Kali Uchis, were suspended.
El Mencho’s body was transported under heavy guard to a forensic facility in Mexico City. The Mexican Attorney General’s Office confirmed Oseguera’s identity through forensic and DNA tests.
“They have identified and confirmed it,” said Harfuch.
El Mencho was previously on the US State Department’s list of most wanted fugitives since 2016 and was wanted by the Western District of Texas court on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.
In 2018, Mexican authorities offered a reward of about US$1.5 million for information leading to his arrest. The United States later increased the reward to US$15 million in December 2024.
The city of Guadalajara, Mexico, was paralyzed after the CJNG cartel went on a rampage following the death of their boss. Security for the 2026 World Cup is now a major concern.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum affirmed that her country is prepared to guarantee the security of the 2026 World Cup.
The unrest in the Jalisco regional prison in Mexico was triggered by an attack by armed groups that killed one guard and caused 23 prisoners to escape.
The most wanted drug lord, El Mencho, died in a military operation. The CJNG cartel launched retaliatory attacks, blocked roads, and freed 23 prisoners in Puerto Vallarta.
The military operation that killed Mexico’s most wanted drug lord, Nemesio Oseguera, also known as El Mencho, was revealed to have started with the tracking of one of his lovers.
The unrest in the Jalisco regional prison in Mexico was triggered by an attack by armed groups that killed one guard and caused 23 prisoners to escape.
The most wanted drug lord, El Mencho, died in a military operation. The CJNG cartel launched retaliatory attacks, blocked roads, and freed 23 prisoners in Puerto Vallarta.