Jalisco: Ejército mexicano mata a "El Mencho", líder del Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación
The Mexican Army killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho", after a dawn operation in the municipality of Tapalpa in the state of jalisco. The operation and his death — he was 59 — have set off a wave of blockades and attacks across multiple states and prompted official reassurances from federal and state authorities.
Operation in Tapalpa left the capo gravely wounded and later dead
The Secretaría de Defensa Nacional de México said the operation took place at dawn this Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho", was gravely injured during the operation and died while being transferred to Ciudad de México. He was 59 years old and had been the leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
Seizures and battlefield casualties the military
The Secretaría de Defensa Nacional de México reported that authorities seized several armored vehicles and weapons during the raid, including rocket launchers described as capable of downing aircraft. The statement added that six other members of the cartel died in the operation. Three members of the military were wounded and were transferred to a hospital in Ciudad de México for emergency care.
Violence and coordinated blockades spread to Jalisco and at least six other states
The death of the CJNG leader triggered widespread unrest: individuals burned and blocked vehicles in different points of Jalisco, the governor Pablo Lemus said, confirming there were "enfrentamientos en la zona" as a direct result of the operation and advising people to avoid going out unless necessary. The violent response included vehicle burnings and blockades in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Puebla, Baja California and Tamaulipas.
An official count recorded 252 blockades of roads and streets in 20 states, of which 90% had been deactivated by 21: 00 ET (20: 00 local time, 02: 00 GMT Monday).
Attacks on businesses and images of unrest in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta
In several cities there were attacks on commercial establishments such as pharmacies and stores, a tactic used by criminal groups in response to security actions. The situation generated fear and uncertainty among the local population and foreign tourists in cities including Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Images shared by residents showed columns of smoke over Guadalajara — one of the host cities for the upcoming World Cup, which the context said will begin in less than four months — and witnesses reported seeing armed men in the streets of Jalisco and other locations.
Federal response and official statements amid contrasting on-the-ground scenes
President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote that "there is absolute coordination with governments of all the states" and urged people to "maintain themselves informed and calm, " adding that "in the greater part of the national territory activities are developing with full normality. " Those reassurances contrasted with the visual reports of burned vehicles and affected stores coming from multiple points of the country.
Image credit and cartel reach under El Mencho
An image used in coverage of the operation was credited to the U. S. Department of State. Under the leadership of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación expanded from its original base in Jalisco to a presence across much of Mexico and became one of the country's most powerful and violent criminal organizations.
