Violence Erupts in Mexico After Cartel Leader Killed
A wave of violence has spread across Mexico following the killing of "El Mencho," the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The U.S. provided intelligence support for the operation that led to his death. In response, the U.S. State Department is updating its travel guidance, and shelter-in-place advisories have been issued for Americans in several Mexican states as the security situation remains volatile.
- Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, "El Mencho," was one of the most wanted fugitives in the world, with the U.S. offering a $15 million reward for his capture. His Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is a global criminal enterprise with a presence in at least 21 of Mexico's 32 states and operations on multiple continents. - The CJNG was formed in 2009 after splitting from the Sinaloa Cartel and has grown to be one of Mexico's most powerful and violent organizations. Beyond trafficking cocaine, meth, and fentanyl, the cartel's criminal activities include extortion, fuel theft, and human trafficking. - The U.S. intelligence support for the operation was provided in part by a new multi-agency group called the Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel (JITF-CC), which was launched in January. Mexican officials stated that the operation was designed and executed by Mexico, and no U.S. military personnel were physically involved in the raid. - The strategy of targeting cartel leaders, sometimes called the "decapitation" strategy, often leads to a power vacuum and an increase in violence as factions fight for control. The weakening of the Sinaloa Cartel after the capture of its leaders, for instance, contributed to the rise of the CJNG. - In immediate retaliation for El Mencho's death, cartel members killed 25 members of the National Guard in the state of Jalisco alone. The violence, including hundreds of roadblocks and torched vehicles, spread across at least eight Mexican states. - The U.S. Embassy's shelter-in-place advisories specifically cover states such as Jalisco (including Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas, and parts of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León. Several U.S. airlines have issued travel waivers for flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. - A clear successor to El Mencho is not apparent, which could lead to internal power struggles. His son, Ruben "El Menchito" Oseguera Gonzalez, was convicted on drug trafficking charges in the U.S. in September, and his brother, Antonio "El Tony Montana" Oseguera Cervantes, was extradited to the U.S. in February 2025. - The CJNG is known for its brazen, paramilitary-style tactics, including using drones, rocket-propelled grenades, and carrying out direct attacks on high-level officials. In 2020, the cartel was blamed for the attempted assassination of Mexico City's police chief, who is now the nation's federal Security Secretary.
