Mexican authorities have returned the body of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” to his family after he was killed by the Mexican army last week, officials said Sunday.
El Mencho’s Death and Aftermath
The Attorney General’s Office confirmed the body was handed over after completing necessary procedural protocols, including genetic tests to verify familial ties between the requesting party and the deceased.
The killing of the country’s most powerful drug lord was met with a wave of retaliatory violence across approximately 20 states, resulting in more than 70 deaths.
The violence has raised concerns about potential impacts on tourism as Mexico prepares to host the FIFA World Cup later this year.
David Mora, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, suggested that returning the body is unlikely to reignite the level of violence seen in the immediate aftermath of El Mencho’s death. He anticipates the cartel will undergo reorganization and potential internal conflicts between smaller groups.
The US State Department had previously offered a reward of up to US$15 million (NZ$25 million) for information leading to El Mencho’s arrest. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, led by Oseguera Cervantes, is considered one of the most powerful and rapidly expanding criminal organizations in Mexico, having emerged around 2009.
In February 2025, the cartel was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. El Mencho’s death represents the Mexican government’s most significant success to date in its efforts to address cartel activity.
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