Mexican soldiers have reportedly killed Nemesio Oseguera, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), media outlets including El Universal, Reforma, and Televisa reported on Sunday. Oseguera, nicknamed “El Mencho,” was one of the most wanted drug lords in Mexico and the United States, carrying a $15 million bounty.
The government has yet to officially confirm his death, but the operation marks one of the biggest blows to organized crime in Mexico since the capture of Sinaloa cartel founders Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Ismael Zambada, both of whom are serving sentences in the US.
Violent Retaliation During Operation
Local reports indicate that cartel members set cars and trucks on fire in Jalisco to block roads and slow security forces during the operation. The unrest extended to neighboring Michoacan, where the CJNG also maintains a strong presence.
Formed in 2009, the CJNG quickly became one of Mexico’s most violent criminal organizations. The US Justice Department has labeled it a terrorist group, accusing it of trafficking cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States.
The elimination of Oseguera could significantly disrupt CJNG operations, though analysts warn that cartel fragmentation and violent reprisals may follow.
