Mexican Army Kills El Mencho, Leader of CJNG, in Major Blow to Drug Cartels

‎Mexico’s military confirmed Sunday that it killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho,” during an operation in Jalisco. His death dismantles the leadership of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), regarded as the country’s most dominant criminal organization, and marks the most significant result yet presented to the administration of Donald Trump in efforts against drug trafficking.

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‎Mexican forces killed CJNG leader El Mencho in Jalisco, triggering violence, US alerts, and a major blow to Mexico’s most powerful cartel.

‎Anadolu via Getty Images

‎According to Mexico’s Defense Department, troops launched an operation to detain Oseguera Cervantes in Tapalpa, Jalisco, about two hours southwest of Guadalajara. He was wounded during the action and died while being transported by air to Mexico City. Jalisco has long served as the operational base of the cartel, which traffics large amounts of fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States.

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‎The confrontation was intense. Soldiers came under attack at the scene, killing four individuals. Three others, including Oseguera Cervantes, were injured and later succumbed to their wounds. Authorities detained two suspects and confiscated armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and additional weapons. Three members of the armed forces sustained injuries and are receiving medical care.

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‎Violence Erupts Across Jalisco

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‎News of the cartel leader’s death quickly ignited unrest. Roadblocks and burning vehicles paralyzed parts of Jalisco and spread into neighboring states for several hours—tactics frequently employed by criminal groups to hinder military activity.

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‎Videos shared online captured smoke rising over the tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta, while scenes from the airport in Guadalajara showed travelers running in panic. Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to Puerto Vallarta due to what it described as an ongoing security situation and urged customers to avoid the airport.

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‎U.S. Reward and Terror Designation

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‎The U.S. State Department had previously offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to El Mencho’s capture. Founded in 2009, the CJNG rapidly expanded into one of Mexico’s most powerful and fastest-growing criminal groups.

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‎In February, the Trump administration classified the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.

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‎Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed skepticism about the long-standing “kingpin” approach, arguing that eliminating cartel leaders can fragment organizations and spark fresh waves of violence. Although she remains popular domestically, public security continues to challenge her administration, particularly amid pressure from Washington to curb drug trafficking.

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‎A Cartel Known for Aggression

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‎The CJNG has earned a reputation for bold and violent attacks, including assaults on military helicopters and the deployment of explosives via drones and land mines. In 2020, the group carried out a high-profile assassination attempt using grenades and assault rifles against the then head of Mexico City’s police force, who now serves as federal security secretary.

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‎The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers CJNG comparable in strength to the Sinaloa cartel, another notorious criminal network with operations in all 50 U.S. states. Both groups generate billions of dollars through cocaine distribution and the manufacture of fentanyl and methamphetamines. However, the Sinaloa cartel has weakened due to internal conflict following the loss of leaders Ismael Zambada García and Joaquín Guzmán, who are in U.S. custody.

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‎Long History of U.S. Charges

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‎Oseguera Cervantes had been involved in drug trafficking since the 1990s. In 1994, he was convicted of heroin distribution conspiracy in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and served nearly three years in prison. After his release, he returned to Mexico and resumed trafficking operations.

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‎Since 2017, he faced multiple indictments in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. A superseding indictment filed on April 5, 2022, accused him of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl for illegal importation into the U.S., as well as firearms offenses tied to drug crimes. He was also charged under the Drug Kingpin Enforcement Act for directing a continuing criminal enterprise.

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‎The State Department advised U.S. citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon to remain in secure locations due to ongoing security operations.