Will he grant,Correspondent in MexicoAnd
Jack Burgess
Reuters
Mexico’s most wanted man and leader of the feared Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) drug cartel was killed during a security operation to arrest him, the Defense Ministry said.
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, died on Sunday while being transported to the capital Mexico City, after being seriously injured during clashes between his supporters and the army.
Four CJNG members were killed in the town of Tapalpa in the west-central state of Jalisco. Three soldiers were also injured. The United States had provided Mexico with information that facilitated the operation.
CJNG responded by burning cars, building roadblocks and attacking security forces in eight states.
The US State Department has issued a stay-at-home warning to US citizens in the states of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, as well as parts of Michoacan, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo then urged the population to remain “calm”.
In an article on X, she wrote that “in most parts of the country, activities are proceeding as normal.”
El Mencho, a 59-year-old former police officer, led a vast criminal organization responsible for trafficking massive quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States.
The US State Department had offered a $15 million (£11.1 million) reward for information leading to El Mencho’s capture.
In a statement, Mexico’s Defense Ministry said the operation was “planned and executed” by the country’s special forces.
Planes from the Mexican Air Force and National Guard were also deployed.
He also said that several armored vehicles and weapons, including rocket launchers, were seized during the operation.
The United States provided Mexico with information that aided its operations, the statement said.
Reuters
Eyewitnesses filmed plumes of smoke rising above several cities, including Guadalajara, one of the host cities of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
In the tourist area of Puerto Vallarta on the coast of Jalisco, thousands of tourists could find themselves stuck in the resort town because of the unrest.
Throughout the day Sunday, armed men were reported on the streets of Jalisco and elsewhere.
The governor of Jalisco, Pablo Lemus Navarro, advised residents of the state on social media to respect the red code and stay at home.
He also said that public transport was suspended in the state.
U.S. carriers United Airlines and American Airlines, as well as Air Canada, have canceled flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. A Delta Airlines-operated flight to Guadalajara from Atlanta was diverted to Austin, according to flight tracking site Flight Aware.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described El Mencho on social media as “one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug lords.”
He added that El Mencho’s death was “a great development for Mexico, the United States, Latin America and the world.”
Mike Vigil, former chief of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, described the operation as “one of the most significant actions undertaken in the history of drug trafficking.” He was speaking to CBS, the BBC’s American news partner.
El Mencho’s assassination represents a victory for the Mexican president in her fight against the country’s drug cartels.
It could also strengthen its relationship with US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to target cartels on Mexican soil.
Last January, Trump told Fox News that after targeting drug boats, “we’re now going to start hitting land,” adding that “the cartels run Mexico.”
President Sheinbaum then responded by stating that a deployment of U.S. troops across the southern border was “not on the table.”
However, if security forces fail to quickly bring the situation under control, the Mexican administration’s victory could be overshadowed by the cartel’s violent response.
The Jalisco Cartel gained notoriety through a series of attacks against security forces and public officials.
He shot down an army helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade, killed dozens of state officials and is even known for hanging the bodies of his victims from bridges to intimidate his rivals.
Cartel CJNG – The main player in drug trafficking in Mexico
The CJNG cartel – whose initial power base was in Jalisco in 2010 – now has a presence throughout Mexico.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers it to rival the powerful Sinaloa cartel, which operates in all 50 US states.
CJNG is also a key supplier of drugs to the United States, earning billions from fentanyl production.
Most fentanyl enters the United States via Mexico
Since October 2024, 9,200 pounds (4,182 kg) of fentanyl have been seized in the United States, according to figures released by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) in June 2025.
Almost all (96%) were intercepted at the southwest border with Mexico.
Less than 1% were seized at the U.S. northern border with Canada. The rest came from shipping routes or other U.S. checkpoints.
