Mexico’s security forces killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the elusive boss of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in a military raid that set off sweeping retaliatory violence across multiple states, disrupted travel and put the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum under intense pressure at home and from the United States.
Oseguera, 60, died in custody after being injured during an operation by Mexican special forces in the town of Tampalpa on the Pacific coast of Jalisco, according to Mexico’s defense ministry. His body was flown to Mexico City under heavy National Guard escort. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the United States provided intelligence support and “commends and thanks the Mexican military for their cooperation and successful execution of this operation.”
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Following initial reports of Oseguera’s death, suspected cartel members blockaded highways with burning vehicles and torched businesses in more than a half-dozen states, paralyzing parts of the country. Authorities reported no civilian deaths. In the beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, tourists described a “war zone” as plumes of dark smoke rose across the bay and emergency vehicles raced through streets. Schools in several states canceled classes as a precaution, state education departments announced.
The U.S. State Department urged Americans in affected areas to shelter in place amid violence, road blockages and flight cancellations. “Due to ongoing, widespread security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity in many areas of Mexico, US citizens should shelter in place until further notice,” the department’s consular affairs section said on X, adding that roadblocks disrupted airline operations, with domestic and international flights canceled in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.
Major U.S. and Canadian carriers, including United, American, Southwest, Alaska, Air Canada and WestJet/Sunwing, canceled flights to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Manzanillo. Some aircraft turned back midflight, including four Southwest jets originally bound for Puerto Vallarta. Southwest said it would send aircraft to repatriate stranded passengers and crew once conditions allow.
Canada said it was monitoring the situation closely and urged citizens in the states of Michoacan, Guerrero and Jalisco to keep a low profile, follow local instructions and shelter in place due to “shootouts with security forces and explosions.”
Oseguera, a former police officer, built the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, into one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations. Under his leadership, the cartel expanded from drug trafficking into fuel theft, extortion, human smuggling and financial fraud, while pioneering the use of weaponized drones against civilians and rivals in parts of western Mexico. U.S. authorities had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.
The strike was among the most significant blows against a cartel blamed by U.S. officials for producing and smuggling large volumes of fentanyl and other drugs across the border. The Trump administration praised the operation as Mexico confronts pressure from Washington to intensify its offensive against trafficking networks. In January, former President Donald Trump warned that “the cartels are running Mexico,” adding, “we are going to start now hitting land with regard to the cartels.”
Sheinbaum said most areas of the country were operating normally, even as her government expanded security deployments. She pledged closer cooperation with the United States on counter-cartel efforts while vowing to defend Mexico’s sovereignty and cautioning against any unilateral U.S. military action on Mexican soil. Officials said more details on the operation that led to Oseguera’s death would be released.
Security analysts are watching whether the sudden decapitation of CJNG fractures its leadership and triggers a violent struggle for control. “There will definitely be skirmishes between the various factions, and these spasms of violence could last for years,” said Carlos Olivo, a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration assistant special agent in charge and an expert on CJNG.
Christopher Landau, previously the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, called Oseguera’s killing a “great development” for both countries and the wider region.
For now, the immediate concern for authorities is restoring calm along key corridors in western Mexico, from the industrial hub of Guadalajara to the tourist magnet of Puerto Vallarta, as armored patrols and firefighters confront the aftermath of dozens of arson attacks and roadblocks sparked by the fall of “El Mencho.”
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
