The Mexican army announced Sunday that it had killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, 59, the powerful leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in a military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco state. Oseguera, who had a $15 million US bounty on his head, was wounded during the clash and died while being airlifted to Mexico City, the army said.
The raid triggered a wave of retaliatory violence across Mexico. Gunmen blocked over 20 roads in western Jalisco, setting cars and trucks on fire. At least eight states suspended in-person classes, and the judiciary authorized courts to close where necessary. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged citizens to remain calm amid the unrest.
Oseguera is considered one of the largest Mexican drug lords taken down since the capture of Sinaloa cartel leaders Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Ismael Zambada, both now serving sentences in the United States. The army said the operation combined Mexico’s military intelligence with “complementary information” from US authorities. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Washington provided intelligence support.
Six suspected cartel gunmen were killed alongside Oseguera, and three soldiers were wounded. Two cartel suspects were arrested, and authorities seized weapons including rocket launchers capable of destroying armored vehicles and downing aircraft.
The violence disrupted daily life in Jalisco. Streets in Guadalajara were nearly empty, with shops, pharmacies, and gas stations closed. Authorities canceled events involving large crowds, including preparations for four upcoming World Cup matches in the state. Witnesses reported armed men forcing civilians to flee, with some seeking shelter in local eateries.
The unrest spread to Michoacan and the resort city of Puerto Vallarta. Formed in 2009, the CJNG is among Mexico’s most violent drug trafficking organizations, responsible for trafficking cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States. The US has classified the cartel as a terrorist organization.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau called Oseguera “one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins,” praising the operation as a “great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world.”
The raid comes amid US pressure on Mexico to curb fentanyl and other drug exports. Former President Donald Trump had repeatedly threatened tariffs on Mexican goods, citing insufficient action against the drug trade.
Following the violence, the US State Department advised American citizens in parts of Mexico to “shelter in place until further notice,” while Canada issued travel warnings for Jalisco, Guerrero, and Michoacan due to “shootouts with security forces and explosions.” Several US and Canadian airlines, including Air Canada, canceled dozens of flights to Mexico, with Puerto Vallarta flights affected into at least Monday.
