Mexican military kills cartel boss 'El Mencho' in US-backed raid

MEXICO CITY – Nemesio Oseguera, also known as “El Mencho,” one of Mexico’s most infamous drug lords, was killed in a military raid on Sunday, triggering widespread retaliatory violence across the country.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has faced increasing pressure from the United States to intensify efforts against drug cartels responsible for producing and smuggling drugs—particularly the synthetic opioid fentanyl—into the U.S.

Oseguera, 60, the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), died in custody after being injured in the operation carried out by Mexican special forces in Tapalpa, Jalisco, on Mexico’s Pacific coast, according to Mexico’s defense ministry. His body was transported to Mexico City on Sunday afternoon in a heavily guarded National Guard convoy.

Sources said Mexican forces led the raid with intelligence support from the U.S., including assistance from a new U.S.-military-led task force. Mexico’s defense ministry confirmed it received “complementary information” from the U.S.

Following news of El Mencho’s death, cartel members blockaded highways with burning vehicles and torched businesses in more than six states, paralyzing parts of the country. No civilian deaths have been reported.

In the popular beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, tourists described the scene as a “war zone,” with thick smoke rising from around the bay. Air Canada, United Airlines, Aeromexico, and American Airlines temporarily suspended flights in the area.

From Police Officer to Cartel Kingpin

A former police officer, Oseguera founded CJNG, which took its name from Jalisco, the western state where Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s largest cities, is located. Under his leadership, CJNG became one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent cartels, engaging in forced labor, recruitment, and a wide range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, fuel theft, extortion, human smuggling, and financial fraud. The cartel also pioneered the use of drones in attacks on civilians in remote areas.

Sunday’s raid marked one of Mexico’s most high-profile strikes against drug gangs responsible for smuggling billions of dollars’ worth of drugs—including fentanyl—into the U.S. Previous cartel leaders, such as Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada of the rival Sinaloa Cartel, were captured alive and are now in U.S. prisons.

While the Trump administration praised El Mencho’s death, the subsequent surge in violence underscored the delicate political balancing act President Sheinbaum faces in her campaign against cartels.

On Sunday, Sheinbaum assured the public that activities in most areas continued as normal. Some schools across various states canceled classes on Monday as a precaution, according to local education departments.

Security experts warned that Oseguera’s death could spark infighting within CJNG. “There will definitely be skirmishes between the various factions, and these spasms of violence could last for years,” said Carlos Olivo, former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration assistant special agent in charge and CJNG expert.

U.S. Officials Praise the Operation

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, a former ambassador to Mexico, called Oseguera’s death a “great development” for both Mexico and the U.S., as well as for the wider region of Latin America.

President Sheinbaum affirmed her commitment to strengthening cooperation with the U.S. against cartels, while emphasizing Mexico’s sovereignty and warning against any unilateral military action by the U.S.

Sheinbaum posted on social media that security officials would provide updates on the operation.

-Reporting by: Emily Green, Lizbeth Diaz, Stephen Eisenhammer, Leila Miller, and Laura Gottesdiener

Writing by: Daina Beth Solomon

Editing by: Christian Plumb

Additional reporting by: Andrea Shalal and Jasper Ward in Washington; Gnaneshwar Rajan and Disha Mishra in Bengaluru

Editing by: Chizu Nomiyama and David Gregorio/Reuters