Who was El Mencho? Mexico’s most wanted cartel boss killed

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as El Mencho, was one of the world’s most feared drug traffickers and the long-time leader of Mexico’s powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

Mexico’s defence ministry said the 59-year-old cartel chief died on Sunday after being seriously injured during clashes between his supporters and the army. He was being transported to Mexico City when he succumbed to his injuries.

The operation, described by authorities as carefully planned by Mexico’s special forces, took place in Tapalpa in the western state of Jalisco. Four CJNG members were killed and three soldiers were injured during the confrontation.

Aircraft from the Mexican Air Force and the National Guard were deployed, and officials said armoured vehicles and heavy weapons, including rocket launchers, were seized.

US authorities had provided intelligence that helped Mexico carry out the operation.

Rise of a feared cartel leader

El Mencho, a former police officer, built CJNG into one of the most powerful and violent criminal organisations in the world.

The cartel is accused of trafficking vast quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States, generating billions of dollars annually. The US State Department had previously offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.

CJNG, which emerged around 2010 in Jalisco, is considered by the US Drug Enforcement Administration to rival the Sinaloa cartel in reach and influence, with operations spanning much of Mexico and distribution networks across the United States.

The group has gained notoriety for brazen attacks on security forces and public officials, including downing a military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade and staging highly public displays of violence to intimidate rivals.

Violence erupts after El Mencho death

Following news of El Mencho’s killing, CJNG members launched coordinated retaliatory attacks, setting vehicles ablaze, erecting roadblocks and confronting security forces across at least eight Mexican states.

Eyewitness footage showed plumes of smoke rising over several cities, including Guadalajara. Authorities in Jalisco issued a “code red” warning and suspended public transport.

The unrest also disrupted travel in tourist hotspots such as Puerto Vallarta, where potentially thousands of visitors were affected.

The US State Department issued shelter-in-place warnings for Americans in Jalisco, Tamaulipas and parts of Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León.

Political and regional impact

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum urged the public to remain calm, saying most parts of the country were functioning normally.

Former US ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau described El Mencho as “one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins”, calling his death a major development for the region.

Security analysts say the killing marks a significant blow to one of Mexico’s most aggressive cartels, though authorities remain alert to further retaliatory violence.