In a decisive blow to organized crime, Mexican federal forces have confirmed the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The raid took place in western Mexico and ended the reign of one of the country’s most feared drug lords.
El Mencho, aged 53, was considered the most powerful cartel boss in Mexico after the capture of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The U.S. Department of State had previously offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture, underscoring his high-profile status in the international drug trade.
According to the Mexican news outlet MILENIO, senior officials confirmed that El Mencho was killed during a coordinated military operation that involved roadblocks and the use of burning vehicles across six neighboring states. These tactics are often employed by drug cartels to slow down government forces in their attempts to dismantle cartel operations.
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El Mencho’s rise to power began after dropping out of school in the sixth grade to work in agriculture. Early in his criminal career, he was arrested in the United States for heroin trafficking along with his brother and later deported. Returning to Mexico, he built a formidable drug trafficking network starting in Tijuana and even worked briefly as a police officer in Tomatlán, Jalisco, gaining critical law enforcement insights that aided his criminal enterprise.
Under his leadership, the CJNG expanded aggressively, becoming notorious for its extreme violence and brutality. Members of the cartel have been implicated in horrific acts, including the use of torture, beheadings, and even alleged cannibalism at so-called “terror schools” designed to instill fear. The cartel has also demonstrated its firepower by downing a military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade.
El Mencho’s death marks a significant turning point in Mexico’s ongoing fight against drug trafficking organizations and may disrupt the power dynamics within one of the world’s most dangerous criminal networks.