Mexican special forces killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the co-founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), on Sunday. The CJNG has become one of the country’s most powerful criminal organizations in recent years.
Rise of the CJNG
While less internationally known than the Sinaloa cartel led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the CJNG is a prominent criminal group within Mexico, recognized for its extreme violence and substantial military-style weaponry.
Based in the state of Jalisco, the cartel has aggressively attacked the military, including downing a helicopter with a rocket launcher in 2015. They are also known for pioneering the use of explosives launched from drones and installing landmines.
Past Attacks and Threat Level
In 2020, the CJNG carried out an assassination attempt in Mexico City against the then head of the capital’s police force, using grenades and high-powered rifles. Security specialist Eduardo Guerrero stated in 2021 that authorities on both sides of the US border considered the group a national security threat.
Guerrero explained that the cartel possesses significant financial resources, advanced weaponry, paramilitary groups, and vehicles, posing a severe challenge to the Mexican government, particularly in smaller cities.
US Presence and Operations
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers the CJNG to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, with a presence in all 50 US states. The cartel is a major supplier of cocaine to the US market and generates billions of dollars from the production of fentanyl and methamphetamines.
The Sinaloa cartel has been weakened by internal conflicts following the arrests of its leaders, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Guzmán, both currently in US custody.
El Mencho’s Background
El Mencho, originally from Aguililla in the state of Michoacán, had been involved in drug trafficking since the 1990s. He previously lived in the US, where he was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin in 1994 and served nearly three years in prison.
After his release, he returned to Mexico and resumed drug trafficking activities with Ignacio Coronel Villareal, alias “Nacho Coronel.” Following Villareal’s death around 2007, El Mencho and Erik Valencia Salazar, alias “El 85,” established the CJNG.
Initially, the CJNG operated as an extension of the Sinaloa cartel, but the two organizations eventually split and have since engaged in ongoing territorial battles across Mexico.
One account suggests the split stemmed from a minor incident – a spilled glass of hibiscus tea – during a gathering in Guadalajara, which allegedly triggered a series of betrayals and violent conflicts.
Unlike El Chapo, who sought media attention, El Mencho preferred to operate discreetly, with few photographs of him publicly available.
Legal Proceedings
Since 2017, El Mencho had been indicted multiple times in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. The most recent indictment, filed on April 5, 2022, charged him with conspiracy and distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl for illegal importation into the US, as well as firearms offenses related to drug trafficking. He was also charged under the Drug Kingpin Enforcement Act for leading a continuing criminal enterprise.
With Associated Press
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
