Over 60 individuals lost their lives during and after an operation that resulted in the demise of a notorious drug kingpin.
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was fatally shot on Sunday in the outskirts of Tapalpa, approximately 100 miles south of Guadalajara in Mexico’s western state of Jalisco.
Law enforcement authorities traced one of Cervantes’ romantic partners to his hideout in Tapalpa, leading to a confrontation where he and two bodyguards sustained severe injuries in a gun battle. Subsequently, the trio was apprehended and perished while being transported to Mexico City, according to Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla.
The violence that ensued during and after the operation resulted in the deaths of more than 60 individuals, including a pregnant woman, 25 National Guard soldiers, various agents and police officers, and 34 cartel members, as confirmed by authorities.
Reports from local media indicate that the pregnant woman, three months along, was killed in a clash between National Guard personnel and CJNG members at the intersection of Avenida de la Mancha and Covadonga in Zapopan.
Following El Mencho’s demise, the cartel set up over 250 roadblocks across 20 states and torched vehicles. The Security Secretary, Omar García Harfuch, disclosed that the 25 National Guard members were slain in six separate assaults.
A disturbance erupted at the Ixtapa state prison in Puerto Vallarta, leading to the death of a prison guard. To restore order, authorities have deployed 10,000 soldiers across 20 states in Mexico.
The White House confirmed its support for the operation targeting the cartel leader and commended the Mexican military for eliminating him. Consequently, the US Embassy instructed its personnel in eight cities and the state of Michoacán to shelter in place and work remotely on Monday, advising American citizens in Mexico to do the same.
Established in 2009, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel originated from the Milenio Cartel as a breakaway faction under El Mencho’s leadership.
Cervantes was a prime target of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, with the US State Department offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture. He faced accusations of smuggling fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the US and orchestrating attacks against Mexican government officials.
In January, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed a 40% decrease in daily homicides since assuming office, amidst pressure from the Trump administration to combat organized crime.
According to government statistics, Mexico registered 17.5 homicides per 100,000 residents in 2025, down from 29.1 per 100,000 in 2018 and 25.4 per 100,000 in 202
