El Mencho’s death sparks deadly cartel retaliation in Mexico as 25 National Guard members are killed, schools shut, and authorities raise nationwide security alerts.
Mexico’s Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch confirmed that 25 members of the National Guard were killed in six separate attacks. (Photo: AFP)
Mexico has entered one of its most volatile security phases in recent years following the capture and death of feared drug lord Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as ‘El Mencho’. What authorities described as a major victory against organised crime has quickly turned into a nationwide crisis, with deadly retaliatory attacks, school closures, and heightened military alerts across the country.
The fallout from El Mencho’s death has been swift and severe, exposing the deep reach and firepower of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Mexican security forces launched an operation in the western state of Jalisco that led to the capture of El Mencho. During a confrontation with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa, he suffered serious injuries. Authorities said he died while being flown to Mexico City.
El Mencho, 59, had once served as a police officer before rising through criminal ranks to become the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, now regarded as Mexico’s most powerful criminal organisation.
For years, he evaded capture despite a $15 million bounty offered by the United States for information leading to his arrest.
Following El Mencho’s death, CJNG launched coordinated revenge attacks across Jalisco. Mexico’s Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch confirmed that 25 members of the National Guard were killed in six separate attacks.
He also said a prison guard, an agent from the state prosecutor’s office, and a woman lost their lives in the violence. Armed groups targeted security personnel, transport routes, and public infrastructure, creating widespread fear.
As violence spread, authorities ordered school closures across multiple regions to protect students and staff. Security forces increased patrols, blocked highways, and deployed additional troops to sensitive areas.
CJNG members reportedly set vehicles on fire, blocked roads, and carried out armed assaults, bringing daily life to a standstill in several towns.
The government placed key cities under high alert as it worked to contain the unrest.
El Mencho transformed CJNG into a global criminal network involved in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, extortion, and money laundering. The cartel operates across Mexico and has links to international drug routes, making it a top target for both Mexican and US authorities.
Despite his low public profile, El Mencho ruled through fear and loyalty, using extreme violence to expand CJNG’s territory.
A new US military-led task force specialising in cartel intelligence supported the Mexican operation that led to El Mencho’s capture and death. The Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel, launched last month, maps drug networks operating along both sides of the US-Mexico border.
The task force brings together multiple US agencies to disrupt cartel leadership and logistics chains.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said a special working group is now investigating money laundering operations linked to drug cartels. Officials believe cutting off financial lifelines is key to weakening CJNG after the loss of its leader.
Security experts warn that CJNG could fracture or become even more violent as rival leaders fight for control. While authorities see El Mencho’s death as a major blow to organised crime, the immediate surge in violence highlights the risks that follow the fall of powerful cartel bosses.
For now, Mexico remains on edge, bracing for further retaliation as forces move to stabilise the country.
