Tracking Love Interest Led to El Mencho’s Fatal Takedown, Mexico Says

Mexican authorities say monitoring a romantic partner helped them locate and kill notorious cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho." The deadly operation resulted in more than 70 deaths across multiple Mexican states as the cartel violently retaliated.

MEXICO CITY — Mexican officials revealed Monday that tracking one of his romantic relationships ultimately led to the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the feared boss of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel who went by “El Mencho.”

Defense Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla announced that the high-stakes military mission on Sunday, supported by American intelligence, concluded when elite troops discovered Oseguera Cervantes “hiding in the undergrowth” within his native Jalisco state. Following multiple firefights, eight gunmen lost their lives while the drug kingpin and two personal guards sustained injuries. All three were detained but succumbed to their wounds during transport to Mexico City, according to Trevilla.

The total death count from the operation and subsequent violence exceeded 70 individuals, encompassing military personnel, alleged cartel operatives, and civilians.

Mexican and American law enforcement had pursued “El Mencho” for years, with multiple warrants pending in both nations for organized crime and narcotics trafficking charges.

This breakthrough came when military intelligence officers identified and monitored a close companion of one woman linked romantically to Oseguera Cervantes. This associate accompanied the woman to Tapalpa, Jalisco, on Friday for a rendezvous with the crime boss. Trevilla explained that pinpointing his exact whereabouts was made possible through “very important additional information” supplied by U.S. intelligence agencies.

After the woman departed following an overnight stay with “El Mencho,” special operations teams completed their tactical preparations, having verified his presence in the region alongside armed protection.

Mexican army and National Guard forces created a perimeter on the ground while six helicopters and backup special forces units positioned themselves in neighboring states around Jalisco.

Air Force assets provided additional reconnaissance and aerial support, Trevilla reported. The assault commenced before dawn Sunday after confirming his location. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum received continuous updates throughout the mission while traveling in northern Mexico.

Gen. Trevilla characterized the criminals’ reaction as exceptionally brutal.

During the battle, he reported that “El Mencho” tried escaping with two bodyguards while a heavily armed faction stayed behind to delay military progress. The on-site casualty count reached eight, four higher than Sunday’s initial reports.

Confiscated weapons included two rocket launchers, one matching the type the CJNG employed in 2015 to bring down a military helicopter. That 2015 incident marked a dark turning point, demonstrating the cartel’s willingness to engage Mexican forces with devastating, military-grade firepower.

Oseguera Cervantes sought refuge in a forested area scattered with small structures near Tapalpa’s edges. Despite the criminals possessing rocket launchers, Trevilla observed they failed to use them effectively. Special forces ultimately “located him hiding in the undergrowth,” sparking another fierce battle that wounded “El Mencho” and his two guards.

Amid the violence, a military helicopter made an emergency landing after taking gunfire, leading to two arrests at the location. Three soldiers suffered injuries during the engagement.

After securing the area, the cartel leader and his guards were placed aboard a helicopter for urgent medical transport. However, Trevilla confirmed their deaths during the flight, stating they were already in “critical condition.”

The flight path was then altered. Rather than touching down in Jalisco’s capital, the remains were transported to Mexico City to prevent potential violent revenge by the criminal organization.

Approximately 100 kilometers west of Tapalpa, a logistics and financial operative identified only as “El Tuli” allegedly promised gunmen 20,000 pesos — more than $1,000 — for each soldier eliminated, Trevilla stated.

The defense minister also identified “El Tuli” — reportedly Oseguera’s second-in-command — as the architect behind numerous roadblocks, arson incidents, and attacks on government facilities throughout Jalisco state.

Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch reported that Jalisco experienced the worst violence, with fatalities including 25 National Guard personnel, one prison worker, one prosecutor’s office staff member, and one presumed civilian woman, plus 30 suspected criminals.

In adjacent Michoacán, four additional gunmen perished while 15 security officers sustained wounds.

A paratrooper rifle unit hunted down “El Tuli” and eliminated him in a gunfight, recovering various firearms and nearly $1.4 million in combined American and Mexican currency. Nevertheless, cartel retaliation persisted across several Mexican states.