Mexico News: mexico news — Cartel violence could compromise World Cup hosting
mexico news: Widespread violence has erupted after security forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho", raising questions about whether Mexico’s co-hosting of this summer’s Fifa World Cup can proceed as planned. The Jalisco New Generation cartel responded with a wave of attacks, and officials and analysts have warned of a volatile security picture.
Mexico News: World Cup impact
Mexico is a scheduled co-host of this summer’s Fifa World Cup, with Guadalajara set to host four matches, Mexico City five and Monterrey four. Guadalajara, a city of more than a million people, saw streets nearly empty as residents sheltered after violence flared. Experts have warned that large-scale unrest could complicate security planning for the tournament.
How the raid unfolded
Authorities attempted to capture Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes in a federal raid in the western state of Jalisco on Sunday. The raid led to a firefight that fatally wounded El Mencho and killed six of his accomplices. Other accounts describe the operation as an army operation; the killing of El Mencho triggered immediate retaliatory attacks by the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG).
Casualties and official estimates
Violence since the raid has been deadly. At least 25 National Guard officers have been killed inside 24 hours. Mexico’s security minister, Omar García Harfuch, said retaliatory cartel attacks have killed 25 members of the National Guard and one security guard; he added that 30 cartel operatives were killed and one bystander died. Separate reports note that six accomplices of El Mencho were killed in the initial firefight.
Local disruptions and responses
The CJNG engaged in gun shootouts with the Mexican military, blocked roads and burned vehicles in response to the leader’s death. A code red security situation has been declared in Jalisco, and violence that began there spread to at least a dozen more regions, with videos online showing gunmen patrolling streets and smoke billowing over cities. In the country’s west, schools were closed and international travellers were left stranded as cartel foot soldiers blocked roads by torching cars and buses.
More than 250 cartel roadblocks across 20 states were later cleared,, and government statements noted that the airports in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and Tepic were operating normally though some flights had been diverted. The US government advised Americans in Jalisco to shelter indoors, and Canada cancelled flights to the Puerto Vallarta airport; flight-tracking updates showed many aeroplanes returning to their departure destinations.
In Puerto Vallarta videos showed cars and buildings ablaze while tourists walked on the beach with smoke rising. In Guadalajara more than 1, 000 people were stuck overnight in the city zoo; zoo director Luis Soto Rendón said: "We decided to let people stay inside the zoo for their safety. There are small children and senior citizens. "
Cartel structure and motives
The Jalisco New Generation cartel is estimated to be worth more than £10bn, has tens of thousands of members and has been responsible for a series of massacres, kidnappings and killings of politicians since its formation in 2009. El Mencho, 59, had become one of the world’s most wanted drug traffickers and led a heavily armed organisation that had grown to be one of the country’s most powerful criminal groups.
Analysts and officials warned of a dangerous power vacuum. David Mora, a Mexico analyst for the International Crisis Group, said he expected violence to spike, noting that El Mencho ran a very centralised organisation and that there is no clear direct heir or successor. Javier Eskauriatza, assistant professor of criminal law at the University of Nottingham, said: "When you push down on the cartels you do get pushback - the danger is that it can be very difficult to manage a security situation that spirals out of control. " He added that cartels have an economic interest in keeping the World Cup peaceful, that they pay off politicians and local police forces and that they buy restaurants and own hotels, making it useful for them if visitors spend money and have a good time.
Eskauriatza also said the CJNG’s response was in part driven by the "rules of the game" within criminal groups: if a leader is captured or killed, a public response is required or the group will appear weak. He noted the CJNG was deliberate about making its response look national and that social media would film and amplify those images.
Defence minister Ricardo Trevilla said information leading to the capture and death of El Mencho stemmed from a romantic partner. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm, and the ministry of foreign affairs released a statement saying: "In Mexico, the rule of law prevails, and under the leadership of President Claudia Sheinbaum, work continues every day to ensure security and wellbeing in our country. "
Uncertainty remains over whether violence will continue; past operations against organised crime bosses have sometimes triggered further bloodshed and created dangerous vacuums as rival factions vie for control.
