Translated with AI
On February 22, the Mexican Ministry of Defense announced the assassination of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, the founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartel. Following this, numerous clashes erupted in several Mexican states between government forces and cartel militants, who allegedly sent their members to Ukraine to train against Russian military personnel.
El Mencho was discovered in the small town of Tapalpa in the state of Jalisco during a joint operation involving army special forces, military intelligence, the air force, the prosecutor's office, and the National Guard. The Ministry of Defense reported that a clash occurred in Tapalpa between military personnel and suspected militants: four attackers were killed, while three others were seriously wounded and subsequently died while being transported to Mexico City. Among the latter three was allegedly the drug cartel leader himself. A formal identification procedure is pending.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the Cabinet of Security, the key body coordinating the country's fight against organized crime, would provide details.
In addition, two suspected CJNG members were arrested during the operation. Armored vehicles and various weapons, including man-portable air defense systems, were seized. Three service members were hospitalized.
The Mexican Ministry of Defense noted that the operation was coordinated with US authorities, who provided additional information. Commenting on the incident, US Deputy Secretary of State and former US Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau congratulated the Mexican security forces but expressed concern about the wave of violence engulfing the country.
Following the elimination of El Mencho, fighting broke out in Mexico. Numerous attacks by cartel militants have been reported. Various clashes have been reported in at least eight states. Cartel militants are setting fire to cars and gas stations, setting up checkpoints, and setting ambushes on highways and streets.
Footage of alleged clashes in the states of Veracruz and Jalisco is circulating online. There are also reports of an attack on a National Guard base, where militants blew up a fuel tanker. There have been reports of an attack on a penal colony, from which, according to unconfirmed reports, an unknown number of prisoners escaped.
There were also reports of attacks on airports in several major cities, including the destruction of a passenger jet, but these reports were never confirmed. The company that operates 12 international airports on the Pacific coast and in central Mexico reported no serious incidents at its airports. Meanwhile, most international flights were cancelled at the airport in the western resort town of Puerto Vallarta.
Governors of at least six states have reported clashes in their regions. Residents are being urged to shelter in place and remain at home until further notice. The US and Canadian embassies have issued similar recommendations for their citizens. Meanwhile, in the state of Jalisco, where most of the violence has been reported, stores and shopping malls remain open as usual.
El Mencho's assassination is being called the most powerful blow to the drug trade in recent years. In terms of significance and potential consequences, the CJNG leader's elimination has been compared to the 2024 arrest of drug lord Ismael Zambada, head of the Sinaloa Cartel, according to El Pais journalist and author Pablo Ferri.
He assessed that El Mencho's assassination left Mexico in a difficult situation. He noted that the World Cup was approaching, and criminal groups were demonstrating their ability to wreak havoc in cities and on major highways. He said the countdown to a power struggle was beginning.
Ferri also emphasized that until details of the operation emerge, it can be said that El Mencho's elimination is the result of President Claudia Sheinbaum's security strategy at one of the most critical moments of her presidency, when violence has increased in states such as Sinaloa and Michoacán.
