Mexico’s government says security forces have killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the fugitive leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, triggering coordinated reprisals across multiple states as armed groups torched vehicles, blocked highways and attacked security personnel in an apparent show of strength.President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s office confirmed that Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho”, died during a joint military operation in western Mexico. Officials described the action as the culmination of months of intelligence work targeting the upper echelons of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, one of the most powerful and expansionist criminal organisations in the country.
Almost immediately after the announcement, violence flared in parts of Jalisco, Guanajuato and Michoacán. Local authorities reported road blockades using hijacked trucks set alight, as well as sporadic gunfire aimed at police patrols. Schools in several municipalities suspended classes and public transport services were disrupted as residents sheltered indoors.
Oseguera Cervantes had long been one of the most sought-after figures in Mexico’s drug war. The United States had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture or conviction, reflecting his alleged role in trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl into the US market. Mexico’s security cabinet had repeatedly described him as a priority target, citing his group’s involvement in extortion, kidnapping and attacks on state institutions.
Born in rural Michoacán in 1966, Oseguera Cervantes rose from relative obscurity to build CJNG into a national force within a decade. The cartel emerged in the early 2010s following splits within the Sinaloa organisation and the weakening of older groups such as Los Zetas. Under his command, CJNG became known for its aggressive tactics, high-powered weaponry and public displays of force, including videos showing convoys of armoured vehicles and uniformed gunmen pledging loyalty.
Security analysts have long regarded CJNG as one of the country’s most violent cartels, competing fiercely for territory in strategic ports and border crossings. The group expanded rapidly into states such as Veracruz, Zacatecas and Baja California, often clashing with local gangs and rival trafficking networks. Its financial base was bolstered by synthetic drug production, particularly methamphetamine, as well as by the trafficking of fentanyl precursors sourced from Asia.
The killing of Oseguera Cervantes marks one of the most significant blows against organised crime since the arrest and subsequent extradition of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the former Sinaloa leader who is serving a life sentence in the United States. Yet past experience suggests that the removal of high-profile kingpins can produce short-term spikes in violence as factions compete for control.
Mexico’s homicide rate remains among the highest in the region, despite government claims that killings have stabilised in some areas. The current administration has pursued a strategy it calls “hugs, not bullets”, emphasising social programmes alongside targeted security operations. Critics argue that the approach has failed to curb the power of cartels that have diversified into fuel theft, migrant smuggling and illegal mining.
Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez said the operation that led to Oseguera Cervantes’s death was conducted with “strict adherence to the law” and aimed to protect civilians. She urged communities to remain calm and assured that federal forces were reinforcing affected areas. The defence ministry reported that additional troops had been deployed to secure highways and critical infrastructure.
In Washington, officials welcomed the development, describing Oseguera Cervantes as a key architect of cross-border drug trafficking networks. Bilateral security cooperation between Mexico and the United States has been under strain in recent years, particularly over the flow of fentanyl, which has driven record overdose deaths in the US. American authorities had previously indicted him on multiple charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offences.
Experts caution that CJNG’s organisational depth may limit the long-term impact of his death. The cartel has cultivated regional commanders with significant autonomy, reducing reliance on a single figure. Some analysts suggest that a power struggle could erupt among lieutenants, while others argue that a swift internal succession may occur to preserve operational continuity.
Business leaders in Guadalajara and other urban centres expressed concern about the economic fallout from the unrest. Temporary road closures have affected freight transport, and tourism operators reported cancellations amid security fears. State governors called for coordination between federal and local forces to prevent further escalation.