Mexico has deployed thousands of additional troops following a surge of cartel violence triggered by the killing of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
According to the Mexican army, Oseguera was wounded on Sunday during a shootout with soldiers in Tapalpa, Jalisco state, and later died while being airlifted to Mexico City. He had been one of the most wanted drug traffickers in the world, with a $15 million US bounty on his head.
His death sparked widespread unrest, as suspected cartel members responded by blocking highways in at least 20 states and setting fire to vehicles and businesses.
Authorities reported that at least 27 security personnel, 46 suspected criminals, and one civilian were killed during the operation and the subsequent clashes. In a related incident, gunmen attacked a prison in Jalisco, allowing at least 23 inmates to escape amid heavy gunfire, according to the state security secretary.
As violence spread, residents sought shelter indoors and tourists remained inside hotels. Although calm gradually returned in many areas, numerous businesses stayed shut on Monday.
The federal government dispatched an additional 2,500 troops to Jalisco one of the host states for this year’s FIFA World Cup bringing the total deployment since Sunday to 10,000 troops.
In Aguililla, Michoacan, Oseguera’s birthplace locals reported road blockades, with images on social media showing thick black smoke rising over the town. In Guadalajara, Jalisco’s capital, schools were closed and most public transport services suspended.
Long queues formed outside small grocery shops and tortilla stands as residents stocked up on supplies. Pharmacies were shuttered, and nearly “everything is closed,” said Guadalajara retiree Juan Soler.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Maria de Jesus Gonzalez said. “Now I’m a little more calm, but a little afraid, still.”
The violence also affected Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination frequented by American visitors. In response, Britain, Canada, and the United States issued travel warnings, while Australia advised its citizens to “exercise a degree of caution.”
Dozens of US and Canadian flights were cancelled amid security concerns.
Oseguera, 59, was widely regarded as one of the last remaining cartel bosses operating in the brutal tradition of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada of the rival Sinaloa cartel.
A founding member of CJNG in 2009, he oversaw the group’s expansion into one of Mexico’s most violent and influential criminal organizations. With his son, Ruben “El Menchito” Oseguera Gonzalez, 35, convicted by a federal jury in Washington in September, analysts warn that the cartel could face instability due to the “absence of a direct succession.”
“That opens the door to violent realignments within the organization,” David Mora of the Crisis Group analysis center told AFP.
Mexican authorities said the operation to capture Oseguera was supported by intelligence from the United States.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Washington “provided intelligence support.” However, President Claudia Sheinbaum stressed that no US forces participated in the raid.
Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla revealed that investigators traced Oseguera’s location through one of his girlfriends. Mexican intelligence, with backing from the US military, learned of a planned meeting between the pair and used the information to locate him at a ranch in Jalisco.
During the operation, security forces arrested two suspected cartel members and seized an arsenal that included rocket launchers capable of bringing down aircraft and destroying armored vehicles. Authorities also confirmed the death of his close associate, Hugo H., known as “El Tuli.”
Washington has designated CJNG a terrorist organization and accuses it of trafficking cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States.
The raid comes amid continued pressure from President Donald Trump on Mexico to curb the flow of drugs northward or risk facing steep tariffs.
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