Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as El Mencho, was killed Sunday in a high-stakes military operation after years on the run, his downfall traced back to surveillance of a close romantic associate despite the formidable security perimeter he maintained.
The 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) died from wounds suffered during a fierce gunfight in a forested area near Tapalpa, Jalisco, while being evacuated by helicopter for emergency medical care, Mexican authorities confirmed.
At a press conference, Defence Secretary General Ricardo Trevilla explained that intelligence operations followed a trusted contact connected to one of Oseguera’s girlfriends. The trail led to a residence in the scenic mountain town of Tapalpa, a quiet getaway spot often used for vacation homes. The woman arrived, spent time with Oseguera, and departed the next day—leaving him and his security detail at the property. That brief window allowed forces to prepare and execute a rapid strike.
The assault was carried out by the National Guard’s elite Special Immediate Reaction Force, supported by ground units and air assets. Troops moved in cautiously to preserve surprise, steering clear of routes that might tip off cartel scouts. Once Oseguera’s location was positively confirmed, the team advanced, immediately drawing heavy fire from armed CJNG gunmen.
Cartel fighters targeted an incoming military helicopter with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades—echoing the group’s 2015 attack that forced down another chopper to help El Mencho escape. The aircraft made an emergency landing after taking hits.
In the intense exchange, Oseguera and two of his bodyguards were seriously wounded. Soldiers secured the area and recovered a stockpile of military-grade weapons, including assault rifles and launchers. The injured men were airlifted but succumbed to their injuries en route. Their bodies were later moved to Mexico City and released to family members under General Prosecutor’s Office supervision.
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Retaliation erupted almost immediately. CJNG gunmen blocked more than 85 roads, set vehicles and businesses ablaze, and clashed with security forces across several states. Authorities reported at least 62 fatalities in the ensuing violence, including roughly 25 National Guard members and over 30 suspected cartel operatives. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that stability was being restored with the deployment of an extra 2,000 troops to Jalisco and surrounding regions, though tourist-heavy coastal zones remained on alert.
El Mencho’s CJNG has long been a dominant force in Mexico’s underworld, locked in bitter rivalry with the Sinaloa Cartel. U.S. officials accuse the organization of trafficking enormous volumes of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States, resulting in its classification as a terrorist organization.
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