CNN Has In-Depth Details on Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, Known as “El Mencho,” Who Rose to Top of Mexico’s Most Dangerous Drug Lords Before Being Killed in Intensive Military Operation in Jalisco
The Rise of “El Mencho” to Leadership of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel
From Ordinary Member to Internationally Wanted Leader
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes began as a low-level member in a drug trafficking network but rapidly ascended the leadership structure of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) due to his organizational skills and boldness in executing violent operations. By 2015, he became one of the most prominent figures managing the cartel’s smuggling operations and territorial expansion, ultimately being appointed its leader after his predecessor was killed in clashes with security forces.
Geographic Expansion and Control of Smuggling Routes
Under his leadership, the cartel successfully gained control over more than 25 Mexican states and expanded its networks to Latin American and European countries. El Mencho gained an international reputation as one of the drug lords most threatening to security systems, with his name added to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) most-wanted list and a $10 million reward offered for information leading to his capture.
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The Military Operation That Ended “El Mencho’s” Life
Details of the Chase and Deadly Clash
On March 23, 2024, Mexican forces, coordinated with military intelligence, executed a precise operation targeting a hideout in a mountainous area of Jalisco state. According to official reports, surprise aerial and ground strikes killed El Mencho and wounded several of his companions. His identity was confirmed through fingerprints and DNA analysis after he was shot while attempting to flee.
Security and Political Reactions
The Mexican government confirmed that eliminating El Mencho was “one of the biggest security achievements of the last decade.” The Mexican president described the operation as “a victory for law over chaos.” However, analysts warn that the leader’s death may create a power vacuum triggering internal conflicts within the cartel, potentially escalating violence in surrounding regions.
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The Impact of El Mencho’s Death on the Drug Market in Latin America
Changing Smuggling Dynamics
With El Mencho gone, security agencies are monitoring potential successors, with leadership likely passing to figures from within his family or former cartel commanders. Estimates indicate the Jalisco New Generation Cartel still controls over 70% of fentanyl smuggling to the United States, making stable leadership crucial for global trafficking networks.
Warnings of Escalating Violence
Human rights organizations report potential surges in retaliatory attacks by cartel factions, particularly in states like Jalisco, Nayarit, and Sonora. Local groups warn that children and youth may be aggressively recruited amid the power vacuum, threatening to worsen violence in Mexican communities.
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