El Mencho: Mexico Drug War Leaves 70+ Dead

At least 73 people have died in Mexico following an attempt to capture the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the subsequent violence after his death. The body count includes security forces, suspected cartel members, and others, authorities said Monday.

El Mencho’s Death Sparks Violence in Mexico

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, was the head of one of Mexico’s fastest-growing criminal networks, responsible for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine to the United States and staging attacks against government officials.

The cartel responded to his death with widespread violence, including blocking roads and setting vehicles on fire.

Mexican authorities deployed an additional 2,000 military troops to the western state of Jalisco following the violence.

Oseguera Cervantes died after a shootout in his home state of Jalisco as the Mexican military attempted to capture him. Authorities followed one of Oseguera Cervantes’ romantic partners to his hideout in Tapalpa, according to Mexican Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla.

Oseguera Cervantes and two bodyguards fled into a wooded area where they were seriously wounded in a firefight. They were taken into custody and died en route to Mexico City, Mr Trevilla said.

In a separate location in Jalisco, soldiers killed another high-ranking cartel member who Mr Trevilla said was coordinating violence and offering more than $US1,000 ($1,400) for every soldier killed.

The dead included 25 members of the Mexican National Guard who were killed in six separate attacks, Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said. Some 30 criminal suspects were killed in Jalisco, and four others were killed in the neighboring state of Michoacan.

A prison guard and an agent from the state prosecutor’s office were also killed.

Several Mexican states cancelled school on Monday as the threat of violence loomed, while local and foreign governments warned their citizens to stay inside. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm.

Authorities said all of the more than 250 cartel roadblocks across 20 states had been cleared by Monday.

The White House confirmed the US provided intelligence support to the operation and applauded Mexico’s army for taking down a man who was one of the most wanted criminals in both countries.

The US Embassy issued a shelter-in-place order for its personnel in eight cities and in Michoacan, and warned US citizens in many parts of Mexico to do the same.

Cars began circulating in Guadalajara on Monday morning, a change from Sunday when the city was almost completely shut down. More than 1,000 people were stuck overnight in Guadalajara’s zoo, where they slept in buses.

José Luis Ramírez, a 43-year-old hotel security guard in Guadalajara, arrived at work early on Monday after her bosses organised a private car to pick her up because buses were not running. She said her family stayed home because they were too scared to leave.

Provan Crump, an Australian travelling throughout Mexico, said Sayulita was a busy tourist destination and many locals were nervous because everything had been shut down. He said he felt safe, but acknowledged the uncertainty.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which began operating in about 2009, is one of the most powerful criminal organisations in Mexico. It was designated as a foreign terrorist organisation by the Trump administration in February 2025 and is known for its aggressive attacks on the military, including on helicopters, and for pioneering the use of explosives from drones and installing mines.

AP/ABC