New Delhi: The reign of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the ruthless architect behind one of the world’s most violent criminal empires, has come to a violent end. On Sunday, the Mexican Army confirmed the death of the 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) following a high-stakes military operation that has ignited a firestorm of retaliatory warfare across western Mexico.
Oseguera, who carried a staggering 15 million dollar bounty on his head, was intercepted by soldiers in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco. While the kingpin was wounded during the initial firefight, the army reported that he succumbed to his injuries while being airlifted to Mexico City.
A state in flames
The vacuum left by El Mencho’s death was felt instantly. Enraged cartel gunmen launched a coordinated wave of “narco-blockades,” paralysing western Jalisco by setting trucks and cars ablaze across more than 20 major thoroughfares. The chaos quickly bled into the neighbouring state of Michoacán and the coastal tourist hub of Puerto Vallarta.
In Guadalajara, the state capital, the atmosphere turned apocalyptic. Normally bustling streets were deserted as businesses, pharmacies, and gas stations bolted their doors. One gas station worker, Maria Medina, recounted a harrowing escape to news agency AFP, describing how gunmen forced staff to flee before torching the facility. “I thought they were going to kidnap us,” she said.
High stakes and heavy weaponry
The raid wasn’t just a victory of manpower, but of intelligence. The Mexican military acknowledged that the operation was fueled by “complementary information” from US authorities. The cost of the capture was high as six cartel gunmen were killed alongside Oseguera; three soldiers were wounded.
Troops seized an array of military-grade hardware, including rocket launchers capable of downing aircraft and piercing armoured hulls. Also, two high-level suspects were taken into custody.
The “World Cup” complication
The timing of the violence is particularly sensitive for Jalisco, which is slated to host four FIFA World Cup matches this summer. In a desperate bid to regain control, state authorities cancelled all large-scale public events on Sunday and moved all schools to remote learning for Monday.
The international community responded with alarm. The US State Department issued an urgent “shelter in place” order for its citizens in the region, while Canada warned travellers of active shootouts and explosions. Dozens of international flights were grounded as airlines pulled out of the conflict zone.
A blow to the “terrorist” cartel
Since its inception in 2009, the CJNG has been classified by the U.S. as a terrorist organisation, accused of flooding American streets with a deadly cocktail of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. El Mencho’s demise represents the most significant blow to Mexican organised crime since the capture of Sinaloa Cartel legends “El Chapo” Guzmán and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau hailed the mission as a “great development for the world,” describing Oseguera as a “bloodiest and most ruthless” kingpin.