Mexican cartel leader El Mencho dies
Authorities say CJNG chief killed after military raid in Jalisco sparks unrest
Mexican authorities say Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” the 60-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), died after being wounded in a military operation in Jalisco. Officials reported special forces engaged suspects in Tapalpa; Oseguera was seriously injured in the shootout and died while being airlifted to Mexico City. His body was transported to the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime in the capital under heavy National Guard escort.
Mexico’s defense ministry said U.S. authorities provided intelligence and “complementary information,” and reported a new U.S.-military-led task force played a role in the raid; the White House press secretary later said the United States supplied intelligence support. Forensic teams were dispatched and prosecutors said investigations into the operation are ongoing.
The announcement triggered immediate, widespread unrest across several states: cartel supporters blockaded highways with burning vehicles, torched businesses and set fires that produced plumes of smoke visible in resort areas such as Puerto Vallarta. Local authorities reported no confirmed civilian deaths in the post-raid unrest but said security patrols were bolstered as a precaution and emergency services treated damage and injuries.
Officials framed the operation as part of an intensified campaign against organized crime. Government statements emphasized efforts to secure evidence, confirm identity, and follow legal protocols; prosecutors pledged further updates once inquiries advance. Reactions among communities were mixed, with some expressing relief at the removal of a high-profile cartel leader and others fearing retaliatory violence and a potential uptick in instability. The episode underscores persistent security challenges posed by cartels and highlights continued cooperation with U.S. authorities in targeting transnational criminal networks.
