El Mencho killed as violence erupts across Mexico
el mencho, identified as Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, was fatally wounded in a security operation to arrest him that involved US intelligence, and his death has been followed by a nationwide wave of violence and reprisals.
El Mencho and the operation
The operation to capture Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes took place on Sunday in Tapalpa, in the central-western Jalisco state. Mexican special forces carried out the military operation with intelligence support from the US. Troops came under fire during the action; the defence department said four people were killed during the operation and that three others, including Oseguera Cervantes, were wounded and later died. Defence Oseguera Cervantes later died while being flown to Mexico City.
Clashes in Tapalpa and deaths
Four members of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartel were killed during the operation in Tapalpa. Three members of the armed forces were wounded in the clashes. Armoured vehicles, rocket launchers and other firearms were seized, and two more people were arrested in connection with the operation.
Roadblocks, burning vehicles nationwide
Retaliation after the death saw CJNG and allied gunmen block roads with burning vehicles and set ablaze businesses and cars, paralysing parts of the country. Some 250 roadblocks were in place across the country during the unrest, with 65 in Jalisco. The Mexican Security Cabinet said four blockades remained active in Jalisco.
Impact on Jalisco and Puerto Vallarta
Throughout Sunday there were reports of gunmen on the streets in Jalisco and elsewhere. Plumes of smoke rose over several cities including Guadalajara, one of the host cities of the forthcoming Fifa World Cup, and along the waterfront in Puerto Vallarta, where tourists described the resort as a "war zone. " Shops were on fire and about 20 bank branches were attacked. Jalisco's Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro declared a code red in the state, pausing all public transport and cancelling mass events and in-person classes.
Official responses and arrests
Mexican federal and state authorities mobilised in response. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said there was "absolute coordination" between state and federal officials and urged people to stay "calm and informed, " adding that "in most parts of the country, activities are proceeding normally. " The Mexican Security Cabinet said 25 people have been arrested: 11 for their alleged participation in violent acts and 14 more for alleged looting and pillaging.
International and US officials also commented. The US Embassy in Mexico described the operation as carried out within a framework of bilateral cooperation, with U. S. authorities providing complementary intelligence. US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau called Oseguera Cervantes' killing a "great development" for the US, Mexico and the rest of Latin America. The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed US government involvement in providing intelligence support and called Oseguera Cervantes "one of the top traffickers of fentanyl. "
Authorities noted that the cartel is based in Jalisco and is known for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl and other drugs to the US. The cartel was designated as a foreign terrorist organisation by Donald Trump's administration earlier this month.
Several airlines cancelled flights to Jalisco, including Air Canada, United Airlines and American Airlines. The US warned its citizens to shelter in place in five states: Jalisco, Tamaulipas, areas of Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon. The UK government said "serious security incidents" had been reported in Jalisco and advised: "you should exercise extreme caution" and follow the advice of local authorities.
Aftermath and continuing unrest
Cartel henchmen blockaded highways with burning cars and torched businesses in several states, tactics commonly used by cartels to obstruct military operations. Authorities said shops were ransacked in some areas. The unfolding security response included arrests and seizures, but blockades and pockets of violence continued as officials worked to restore order.
Unclear in the provided context: the precise timeline of when Oseguera Cervantes first received his injuries during the clashes, and the identities of the four people killed in the operation beyond their cartel affiliation.
Closing: The death of Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes has prompted a nationwide security crisis marked by arson, widespread roadblocks and multiple arrests, while federal and state officials say they are coordinating to contain the unrest.
