Cartel figure carried a $15-million U.S. bounty; federal response expands as arson, highway blockades and attacks on public buildings spread across multiple states
MEXICO CITY — Mexican Army special forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the longtime leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, during a military operation Sunday in the mountain region of Tapalpa, Jalisco, according to multiple local media reports and security sources.
Oseguera Cervantes was reportedly wounded during a firefight with federal forces and later died while being airlifted to Mexico City. As of late Sunday, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration had not issued a formal public statement confirming the operation, though security officials indicated that details would be released following internal review.
The death of Oseguera, 59, would mark one of the most consequential blows to organized crime in Mexico in more than a decade.
A Top Target in Mexico and the United States
“El Mencho” had been among the most wanted drug traffickers in both Mexico and the United States. The U.S. government had offered a $15-million reward for information leading to his capture, citing his role in large-scale fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking operations that stretched from Mexico to major American cities.
Security analysts described Sunday’s operation as the most significant strike against cartel leadership since the capture and extradition of Sinaloa cartel figures Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, both of whom are serving sentences or facing prosecution in the United States.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, rose rapidly over the past decade to become one of the most powerful and violent criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere, challenging the dominance of older cartels and expanding into human trafficking, fuel theft and extortion.
Cartel Retaliation: Blockades, Arson and Airport Disruptions
Within hours of reports of Oseguera’s death, armed groups launched coordinated retaliatory actions across western Mexico.
Gunmen set fire to cars and cargo trucks, blocking major highways in Jalisco in an apparent effort to hinder troop movements and create chaos. Similar tactics — often referred to in Mexico as “narco-blockades” — have historically been used when high-value cartel targets are arrested or killed.
The violence quickly spread beyond Jalisco, affecting municipalities in Michoacán, Tamaulipas, Colima, Guanajuato and Aguascalientes. In Michoacán, Gov. Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla announced on social media that he had ordered the immediate activation of joint state-federal security task forces in response to the unrest.
Authorities also reported arson attacks against at least 20 branches of the state-run Banco del Bienestar in Jalisco, describing the incidents as coordinated acts intended to destabilize public order.
At Guadalajara International Airport, officials said flight operations remained technically normal. However, many passengers were unable to reach the terminal due to highway closures near Chapala, forcing airlines to make case-by-case decisions regarding departures.
By Sunday afternoon, violence had extended to parts of Veracruz and to the resort cities of Cancún and Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo, where additional vehicles were set ablaze and roads temporarily shut down.
In Baja California, disturbances were reported in Tijuana, Rosarito and Tecate, along with a blockade in San Quintín.
In contrast, Baja California Sur authorities reported relative calm, though security forces maintained heightened patrols in La Paz, Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.
Political and International Reaction
Ricardo Monreal, a senior lawmaker aligned with the ruling party, posted a message on X praising the security strategy led by President Sheinbaum and calling the operation “one of the most significant blows to organized crime in recent years.”
One of the first foreign officials to react publicly was U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. In a post on X, Landau described the killing as “an important development for Mexico, the United States, Latin America and the world,” underscoring the cross-border implications of the cartel’s activities.
Uncertain Aftermath
Security experts cautioned that while the death of a cartel leader can disrupt operations in the short term, it may also trigger internal power struggles and further violence as rival factions compete for control.
Federal authorities urged residents in affected areas to avoid nonessential travel, follow official advisories and report emergencies to local services.
As Mexico awaits formal confirmation from the presidency, the events of Sunday signal a potentially pivotal moment in the country’s long-running battle against organized crime — one that could reshape the balance of power among cartels but also test the government’s capacity to contain the fallout.
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