(Image source from: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Mexico's top fugitive and the head of the notorious Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) drug cartel has been killed during a security mission to capture him, according to the defense ministry. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, referred to as "El Mencho", passed away on Sunday while being transported to Mexico City after suffering severe injuries in confrontations between his followers and the military. Four CJNG members lost their lives in Tapalpa, located in the central-western state of Jalisco. Additionally, three members of the army were hurt. The United States provided Mexico with intelligence that helped in the operation. In retaliation, CJNG ignited vehicles, created roadblocks, and attacked law enforcement in eight different states. The US State Department issued a warning for American citizens to stay indoors in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, and certain regions of Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo later urged citizens to stay "calm". In a message on X, she stated that "in the majority of the country, things are going on as usual".
El Mencho, a 59-year-old ex-police officer, led a large crime group involved in smuggling massive amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the US. The US State Department had put a bounty of $15 million (£11.1 million) on information that could lead to his capture. The Mexican defense ministry announced that the operation was "planned and carried out" by the nation's special forces. Aircraft from the Mexican Air Force and the National Guard were also involved. They stated that during the operation, various armored vehicles and weapons, including rocket launchers, were confiscated. The US had been supplying Mexico with information to support this operation, the statement indicated. Witnesses recorded smoke clouds over several cities, including Guadalajara, which is one of the host cities for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. In the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta, located on the Jalisco coast, numerous tourists might be stranded in the resort due to the chaos. Throughout Sunday, there were reports of armed individuals in the streets of Jalisco and other locations.
The governor of Jalisco, Pablo Lemus Navarro, informed residents via social media to follow a code red alert and remain indoors. He also noted that public transportation in the state was halted. US airlines, including United Airlines and American Airlines, along with Air Canada, have canceled flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. A Delta Airlines flight heading to Guadalajara from Atlanta was redirected to Austin, according to the flight monitoring service Flight Aware. Christopher Landau, a former US ambassador to Mexico and Deputy Secretary of State, referred to El Mencho on social media as "one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug lords. " He commented that El Mencho's death was "a significant event for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world. "
Mike Vigil, who used to be the head of International Operations for the US Drug Enforcement Administration, called the operation "one of the most important efforts in the history of drug dealing. " He made these comments during an interview with CBS, which is a partner of the BBC in US news. The death of El Mencho marks a win for the Mexican president in her battle against drug gangs in the country. This event could also improve her ties with US President Donald Trump, who has warned about going after the gangs in Mexico. In January, Trump told Fox News that after dealing with drug smuggling boats, "we are going to begin targeting land," adding that "the cartels control Mexico. " President Sheinbaum later replied that sending US troops to the southern border was "not an option. "
Yet, if the security forces do not manage to control the situation quickly, the Mexican government's victory might be overshadowed by the violent backlash from the cartel. The Jalisco cartel has become well-known for a number of attacks on security personnel and government officials. They have shot down a military helicopter using a rocket-propelled grenade, killed many state officials, and have even been known to hang the bodies of their victims from bridges to scare their rivals.
