Major Blow to CJNG: El Mencho Killed in Joint U.S.-Mexico Raid

In a landmark security operation, the White House has confirmed that Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed this past Sunday. The mission, carried out by Mexican Special Forces, was backed by critical U.S. intelligence.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

The Takedown in Jalisco

The operation unfolded in the mountain town of Tapalpa, a known cartel stronghold. Following a fierce gunbattle between elite troops and cartel sicarios, El Mencho sustained critical injuries. He reportedly succumbed to those wounds while being transported by air to Mexico City.

Key details of the mission include:

• Tactical Support: The U.S. provided high-level “complementary intelligence” through a specialized joint task force.
• Casualties: Six cartel gunmen were killed in the exchange. On the government side, three soldiers were wounded and one National Guard member was killed.
• The Prize: El Mencho had been one of the world’s most wanted men, with a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head.

Chaos and “Narco-Blockades”

The vacuum left by El Mencho’s death triggered immediate retaliatory violence across Western Mexico. Cartel members engaged in “narcobloqueos,” hijacking and burning vehicles to paralyze major highways in Jalisco, Michoacán, and Colima.

• Security Alerts: Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus has declared a “Red Code” alert.
• International Impact: The U.S. Embassy advised citizens to shelter in place, while several international airlines suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta amid the volatility.

The Road Ahead

While the death of El Mencho is a massive symbolic and tactical victory for the Trump and Sheinbaum administrations, security analysts remain cautious. The “decapitation” of the CJNG often leads to internal power struggles and splintering, which could result in a short-term spike in violence as lieutenants fight for control of the fentanyl trade.