Mexico: World’s most wanted drug lord killed in army operation

Mexico’s most wanted fugitive and leader of the feared Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho”, has been killed during a security operation aimed at arresting him, according to the country’s defence ministry.

Authorities said the 59-year-old cartel leader died on Sunday while being transported to Mexico City after sustaining serious injuries during clashes between his supporters and the army in Tapalpa, in the central-western state of Jalisco.

The operation resulted in the deaths of four CJNG members, while three army personnel were injured. Mexican officials disclosed that intelligence provided by the United States assisted in planning and executing the mission.

In retaliation, CJNG members launched coordinated attacks across at least eight states, setting vehicles ablaze, erecting roadblocks and targeting security forces. Eyewitness videos circulating online showed thick plumes of smoke rising over several urban centres, including Guadalajara, one of the host cities for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

The unrest also disrupted activity in the coastal tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta, where thousands of visitors were reportedly stranded as violence escalated. The governor of Jalisco, Pablo Lemus Navarro, urged residents to remain indoors under a “code red” advisory, announcing the suspension of public transport services across the state.

The US State Department issued a shelter-in-place alert for American citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas and parts of Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León. Several international airlines, including United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada, cancelled flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, while a Delta Airlines flight bound for Guadalajara was diverted to Austin.

Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, later called for calm, stating on social media that “in most parts of the country, activities are proceeding normally.”

El Mencho, a former police officer, led a powerful criminal organisation responsible for trafficking large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States. The US State Department had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.

In a statement, Mexico’s defence ministry said the mission was “planned and executed” by special forces, with support from the Mexican Air Force and National Guard. Authorities also seized armoured vehicles and heavy weaponry, including rocket launchers.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration has previously identified CJNG as one of the most powerful and violent criminal groups in the world, rivalling the Sinaloa cartel and maintaining a presence across Mexico and in all 50 US states.

El Mencho’s death marks a significant milestone in Mexico’s ongoing campaign against organised crime. However, analysts caution that the cartel’s swift and violent response underscores the persistent security challenges facing the government as it seeks to restore stability.