Mexican Cartel Boss ‘El Mencho’ Killed in Military Operation, Sparks Nationwide Violence

The death of notorious drug kingpin Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho,' during a Mexican military operation has triggered widespread violence across Mexico. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader was one of the world's most wanted criminals, responsible for trafficking massive amounts of fentanyl to the United States.

Mexican authorities are working to restore order after the death of one of the world’s most notorious drug lords sparked violent retaliation across multiple states, forcing school closures and prompting residents to shelter in place.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known by his alias “El Mencho,” died Sunday during a military operation in Jalisco state. The 57-year-old commanded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico’s most ruthless criminal organizations responsible for smuggling vast quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States.

The drug lord was fatally wounded during a fierce gunfight when Mexican forces attempted to apprehend him in Tapalpa, located roughly two hours southwest of Guadalajara. He succumbed to his injuries while being transported by air to Mexico City, according to defense officials.

Cartel members launched immediate revenge attacks nationwide, establishing over 250 roadblocks spanning 20 states and torching vehicles in the streets. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for citizens to remain calm while announcing that most barriers had been dismantled by late Sunday.

The operation received intelligence assistance from the United States, with the White House praising Mexico’s military for eliminating one of both nations’ most sought-after fugitives. The State Department had placed a $15 million bounty on El Mencho’s head.

Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest metropolitan area, came to a virtual standstill Sunday as frightened residents remained indoors. The city’s international airport operated with skeleton crews, and most incoming flights were grounded due to security concerns.

Jacinta Murcia, a 64-year-old vendor, described her anxiety while navigating the airport late Sunday evening. Earlier that day, travelers had scrambled for cover behind seating areas amid fears of violence.

“My plan today leaving the airport is to see if there are any taxis, but I’m scared of everything. That there are blockades, that there’s a curfew, that something could happen,” she said. “I’m all alone.”

Regional authorities confirmed at least 14 additional deaths Sunday, including seven National Guard personnel killed during the widespread unrest in Jalisco, Michoacan, and Guanajuato states.

Social media footage captured tourists on Puerto Vallarta beaches with smoke columns visible in the background. At the airport, elderly Mexican travelers huddled together planning their journey home.

“We better all go together,” one person was heard saying. “Go with God.”

International Crisis Group analyst David Mora characterized the events as a pivotal moment for President Sheinbaum’s anti-cartel strategy amid mounting pressure from Washington to combat fentanyl trafficking.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded stronger Mexican action against drug smuggling, threatening additional tariffs or potential military intervention without visible progress.

U.S. Ambassador Ron Johnson praised the Mexican armed forces’ achievements and sacrifices in a Sunday statement, noting that “under the leadership of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bilateral cooperation has reached unprecedented levels.”

However, Mora cautioned that the cartel leader’s elimination could trigger additional bloodshed as competing criminal organizations attempt to exploit the weakened Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

“This might be a moment in which those other groups see that the cartel is weakened and want to seize the opportunity for them to expand control and to gain control over Cartel Jalisco in those states,” he explained.

The analyst noted Sheinbaum’s administration has adopted a more aggressive military approach against criminal networks compared to previous governments.

“Ever since President Sheinbaum has been in power, the army has been way more confrontational, combative against criminal groups in Mexico,” Mora said. “This is signaling to the U.S. that if we keep cooperating, sharing intelligence, Mexico can do it, we don’t need U.S. troops on Mexican soil.”

Defense officials reported that troops encountered heavy resistance during the capture attempt, resulting in four immediate fatalities at the scene. Three wounded individuals, including Oseguera Cervantes, later died from their injuries.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed via social media that American intelligence supported the operation, describing El Mencho as “a top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland.”

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel emerged around 2009 and rapidly became one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal enterprises. The Trump administration designated the organization as a foreign terrorist group in February 2025.

Despite Sheinbaum’s previous criticism of “kingpin” elimination strategies that historically triggered violence when cartels splintered, mounting security concerns and U.S. diplomatic pressure have intensified demands for results against drug trafficking operations.

The Jalisco organization distinguished itself through particularly aggressive tactics against military forces, including helicopter attacks and pioneering use of drone-delivered explosives and landmines. In 2020, the cartel orchestrated a brazen assassination attempt in central Mexico City using grenades and military-grade weapons against the capital’s police chief, who now serves as federal security secretary.