El Mencho Killed in Military Operation as Violence Spreads Across Jalisco and Beyond
el mencho, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartel, has been killed during a security operation to arrest him, triggering a wave of violence, widespread roadblocks and reports of gunmen on city streets. The development marks a major security event with immediate disruption in tourist areas and multiple states.
El Mencho killed in Tapalpa operation
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho", was killed on Sunday while being taken to Mexico City after being seriously injured in clashes between his supporters and the army. The defence ministry said the operation to arrest him was planned and executed by special forces and that aircraft from the Mexican Air Force and the National Guard were deployed.
Casualties, arrests and seized weapons
The defence ministry said four CJNG members were killed in the town of Tapalpa in central-western Jalisco state. It also said that military personnel were injured in the clashes; three army personnel were reported injured and transported to the capital for treatment. One account described four cartel members killed at the scene and another three dying while being flown to Mexico City, among them El Mencho. A separate account said he was killed along with at least six alleged accomplices.
Authorities seized several armoured vehicles and weapons during the operation, including rocket launchers. Two alleged cartel members were arrested with weapons described as capable of bringing down aircraft and destroying armoured vehicles.
Violent retaliation and nationwide disruption
The Jalisco New Generation cartel retaliated with torched cars, burning roadblocks and attacks on security forces. Violence spread beyond Jalisco: cars were set alight, highways were blocked by gunmen and organised attacks took place in eight states and in more than half a dozen states, generating widespread unrest. Eyewitnesses filmed plumes of smoke rising over several cities, including Guadalajara, a host city of the forthcoming FIFA World Cup. A burning bus appears to have been used as a roadblock during the military move.
Impact on civilians and tourism
In the tourist hotspot of Puerto Vallarta on the Jalisco coast, potentially thousands of tourists were trapped in the resort area amid the fighting. Throughout Sunday there were continued reports of gunmen on streets in Jalisco and elsewhere, contributing to the sense of emergency in multiple population centers.
Political response and international involvement
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo urged people to remain "calm" and posted on X that "in most parts of the country, activities are proceeding normally. " The US provided information that assisted the operation, and US agencies contributed complementary intelligence work. The Joint Interagency Task Force–Counter Cartel, an intelligence task force formed recently to map cartel networks, played a role in the operation.
Who El Mencho was and what his death means
El Mencho, a 59-year-old former police officer, led the Jalisco New Generation cartel, which began in Jalisco and is now present across Mexico. He ran a criminal organisation accused of trafficking huge quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States. The US had offered a $15m reward for information leading to his capture. Senior US officials reacted positively to the slaying, and public commentary included references to long-running pressure from US leadership and calls for action against cartels.
Footage and eyewitness accounts showed heavy fighting in Tapalpa during the operation. Details remain complex and some counts of allied casualties differ across accounts; these details may continue to be clarified as official statements are updated.
