Mexican Army Eliminates Infamous Cartel Leader ‘El Mencho

Mexican security forces confirmed Sunday that Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed during a military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco state. According to the Mexican army, Oseguera was wounded in a clash with soldiers and died while being transported to Mexico City. The raid also resulted in the deaths of six suspected cartel gunmen and injuries to three soldiers. Authorities described the operation as one of the most consequential actions against organized crime since the capture of Sinaloa cartel figures Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Ismael Zambada.

Following the killing, cartel members launched retaliatory attacks across western Mexico. Gunmen blocked over twenty highways, set cars and trucks on fire, and disrupted daily life in several cities. At least eight states suspended in-person school activities, while courts temporarily closed to protect staff and the public. In Guadalajara, Jalisco’s capital, streets were largely empty as businesses, gas stations, and pharmacies shut down. Residents reported tense encounters with armed men, describing the city’s sudden transformation into a security lockdown zone.

The Mexican army highlighted that the operation combined national intelligence with “complementary information” from the United States. Washington confirmed its support, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that U.S. agencies provided actionable intelligence. Two cartel suspects were arrested, and authorities seized an arsenal of weapons, including rocket launchers capable of destroying armored vehicles and aircraft. The U.S. has classified the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a terrorist organization, citing its trafficking of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into American cities.

International observers emphasized the operation’s broader implications for security in North America and Latin America. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described Oseguera as “one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins” and hailed the raid as a critical achievement. Amid the violence, Guatemala reinforced strategic border areas to prevent cross-border criminal incursions. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Canadian governments issued travel advisories, and airlines canceled multiple flights to Mexican destinations, including Puerto Vallarta. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for calm as authorities managed one of the most severe security crises in recent memory. The killing of El Mencho marks a pivotal moment in Mexico’s ongoing fight against organized crime and signals intensified regional cooperation in countering drug trafficking and cartel violence.