El Mencho Killed: Chaos Erupts in Mexico, Impact on Tourists
The death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has triggered widespread violence and disruption across Mexico, raising concerns for travel and American tourists in popular coastal towns.
25 National Guard Troops Dead After ‘El Mencho’ Killed
Following the operation that resulted in Oseguera Cervantes’ death, at least 25 members of the Mexican National Guard were killed in six separate attacks in the state of Jalisco, according to Mexico Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch CBS News.
How It Happened
“El Mencho” was killed during a shootout in his home state of Jalisco as the Mexican military attempted to capture him. Cartel members responded with violence, blocking roads and setting vehicles ablaze. In addition to Oseguera Cervantes, a prison guard, an agent from the state prosecutor’s office, and an unidentified woman were killed. Authorities reported 30 criminal suspects were killed in Jalisco and four others in Michoacan. During the operation, troops initially killed four individuals at the location, and three more, including “El Mencho,” succumbed to injuries sustained in the shootout. Two suspects were arrested, and authorities seized armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and other weaponry CBS News.
‘El Mencho’ Killed: U.S. Support and Reaction
The White House confirmed the U.S. Provided intelligence support to the operation and applauded the Mexican army for neutralizing a key target for both countries CBS News.
Chaos and Disruption Across Mexico
Oseguera Cervantes’s death sparked chaos in several Mexican states on Sunday, with the CJNG cartel responding with widespread disruption. Cars were burned and roads blocked in nearly a dozen states. Guadalajara, Jalisco’s capital, effectively became a ghost town as residents sheltered in place. Schools were closed in multiple states. Videos circulating on social media showed smoke billowing over Puerto Vallarta and people fleeing in panic at the Guadalajara airport The New York Times.
Travel Warnings and Flight Cancellations
The U.S. State Department issued a warning to U.S. Citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon states to remain in safe locations due to ongoing security operations The New York Times. Tourists in Puerto Vallarta were advised to stay within their resorts amid reported clashes. Major U.S. Airlines, including Air Canada, canceled flights to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and some flights to Mazatlán The New York Times.
Who Was ‘El Mencho’?
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was the leader of the CJNG, a major cartel responsible for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States CNN. Born in 1966 in Michoacán, he had been involved in drug trafficking since the 1990s. He was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin in California in 1994 and served nearly three years in prison before being deported to Mexico twice CBS News, Wikipedia.
Upon his return to Mexico, Oseguera Cervantes joined Ignacio Coronel Villarreal, and after Villarreal’s death, he and Erik Valencia Salazar founded the CJNG around 2007. The cartel initially worked for the Sinaloa Cartel before eventually becoming a rival CNN.
The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest, and Mexico offered a reward of 300 million pesos Wikipedia.