mexico city
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Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the powerful and long-hunted leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel and one of the world’s most wanted human traffickers, died after a military operation in Mexico on Sunday, delivering a consequential victory for the country as it seeks to show tangible results to the Trump administration.
Oseguera, a former police officer, led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which became one of Mexico’s “most powerful and ruthless criminal organizations,” according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Violence erupted in several Mexican states after security forces from multiple federal branches of the Mexican military carried out an operation in the town of Tapalpa in the western state of Jalisco. Officials said organized crime suspects rioted after the operation, setting buses and shops on fire while clashing with security forces.
Mexico’s National Defense Secretariat said U.S. officials provided “supplementary information” supporting the operation. A US defense official acknowledged that a US interagency task force “played a role” in the operation. However, the exact role played by the United States remains unclear.
since then Establishment In January, U.S. officials said the Interagency Joint Task Force Counter-Cartels regularly works with the Mexican military through U.S. Northern Command to combat cartel operations along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“But we want to emphasize that this is a (Mexican military) operation and the success is theirs,” the official said.
According to the Ministry of Defense, during the raid, CJNG members engaged in a gunfight with government forces, resulting in four gang members dying at the scene.
Osegueura and two others were seriously injured and died while being flown to Mexico City, the ministry said.
Three Mexican military personnel were also injured in the operation and taken to a hospital in Mexico City for treatment.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the efforts of the agencies involved in the mission.
Sheinbaum said Sunday that Mexico’s state governments are working in “full coordination” to deal with the disruption, adding that “activity is proceeding as normal” in most parts of the country.
“We work every day for peace, security, justice and well-being in Mexico,” she said.
The military operation sparked a wave of violence across Jalisco state, which is scheduled to host four 2026 World Cup matches, in June, and later spread to other states, including Michoacán and Guanajuato.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro reported that suspected members of an organized crime group set a bus on fire, blocked roads in the area and clashed with authorities.
Video footage obtained by CNN showed multiple fires burning and plumes of smoke in the area of Puerto Vallarta, a popular resort town for American tourists on Mexico’s west coast.
As a result of the violence, Air Canada Paused Flight to Puerto Vallarta.
During surgery, Remus prompted Residents will remain at home and public transport in Jalisco will be suspended “until the situation calms down,” it said.
The governor said violence had spread to at least five states and urged people to avoid traveling on highways.
The Michoacan State Public Safety Secretariat reported that efforts are underway to restore traffic flow following the road closure.
Meanwhile, the Guanajuato Security and Peace Secretariat reported that fires broke out in pharmacies and convenience stores in different areas of the province.
“No injuries have been reported, but property damage has occurred,” the statement added, adding that a security operation would be carried out in coordination with the Army, National Guard and city police.
US Department of State issued “Due to ongoing security operations and related road closures and criminal activity, we urge U.S. citizens to seek refuge in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, and Michoacán,” the travel advisory said.
Carlos Navarro, 54, a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico, was traveling to visit family in his small town in Jalisco state as the operation unfolded.
While waiting for a connecting bus in Guadalajara, he was informed that the bus had been canceled due to bus arson.
Navarro took refuge at a nearby Walmart, but panicked employees allowed him to stay despite the evacuation.
“I hear about it, but hearing it on the news is completely different than experiencing it firsthand. It’s very difficult because it makes me very sad. It makes me very sad because I love my country,” he told CNN.
Oseguera worked for CJNG, which broke away from the Milenio Cartel, and eventually rose through the ranks to lead the criminal organization.
Under his leadership, the CJNG expanded its power and control in Jalisco and surrounding areas.
Mexican authorities have long sought to arrest Mr. Oseguera for his involvement in the cartel. 2018, Mexican Attorney General’s Office provided 30 million pesos (US$1.7 million) for information leading to an arrest.
Oseguera was also wanted by U.S. authorities and was offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest.
The U.S. Department of Justice indicted Oseguera in 2022 on charges of leading the manufacture and distribution of fentanyl for import into the United States.
The Justice Department’s indictment against Oseguera says his organization operates in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Colima and Veracruz, as well as other regions.
In 2025, Oseguerra will authorized Classified as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. Department of State.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in a post about explained Oseguera’s death was “a major development for Mexico, the United States, Latin America and the world.”
He added that he was watching the turmoil in Mexico “with great sadness and concern.”
Mr. Sheinbaum has previously questioned the strategy of targeting cartel kingpins, warning that decapitating criminal organizations could split them into rival factions and spark a new cycle of violence. However, security remains fragile for her administration.
Sheinbaum has been under increasing pressure over the past year from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened military intervention and increased import tariffs unless Mexico shows concrete results in curbing drug trafficking.
Shortly after the United States captured ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, President Trump signaled he might expand military operations against Mexican drug lords.
Mr. Sheinbaum rejected the concept of a U.S. attack in Mexico, characterizing it as a violation of Mexico’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Instead, it has pursued a direct approach to combating organized crime by increasing cooperation with U.S. security partners.