Mexico’s military has struck a decisive blow by killing Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias ‘El Mencho,’ the ruthless head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed the news, hailing it as a game-changer in the fight against global drug trafficking.
Posting on X, Landau declared the event ‘huge for Mexico, the U.S., Latin America, and the world,’ emphasizing that righteousness ultimately triumphs over evil. In a follow-up, he voiced concern over the ensuing violence, noting it’s no surprise that criminals lash out in fear.
The slaying triggered immediate havoc in CJNG-dominated regions. Highways in Puerto Vallarta were barricaded by armed thugs who torched vehicles, while Guadalajara saw buses and storefronts go up in flames. Security forces clashed with rioters in several states, marking a violent chapter in the cartel’s reprisal.
According to The Wall Street Journal, this was organized crime’s most devastating loss to date, escalating Mexico’s anti-cartel campaign. The Washington Post detailed the unrest in key cities, where cartel enforcers sowed terror through arson and blockades.
Outlets like Fox News pinpointed the Jalisco raid as the site of El Mencho’s demise, with CNN covering the multi-state riots involving bus burnings and skirmishes. The New York Post focused on Puerto Vallarta’s highway mayhem post-kill.
Hunted by the U.S. for years over fentanyl and meth smuggling, El Mencho carried a $15 million bounty. The operation aligns with Washington’s push for tougher Mexican action against cartels, despite Mexico’s aversion to U.S. troop involvement.
American citizens received travel alerts with emergency lines: 1-888-407-4747 (U.S./Canada) and +1 202-501-4444 (international). As the dust settles, Mexico faces a crossroads—will this decapitation weaken the CJNG, or fuel a fiercer insurgency?