The recent operation resulting in the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” in Mexico’s Jalisco state is believed to have significant repercussions on the country’s drug cartels, according to a former high-ranking U.S. official interviewed by CBC News. El Mencho was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), known for its involvement in drug trafficking and bold attacks on Mexican authorities. The CJNG, operating in nearly all of Mexico’s states, has a history of aggressive behavior, including targeting military personnel with explosives launched from drones and setting up mines.
Mexican Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla disclosed that the authorities traced one of Oseguera Cervantes’s romantic partners to his hideout in Tapalpa, leading to the military operation. During the operation, eight gunmen were killed, while Oseguera Cervantes and two bodyguards attempted to flee but sustained serious injuries in a subsequent firefight. Despite being airlifted for medical treatment, Oseguera Cervantes and his companions succumbed to their injuries en route to Mexico City.
Oseguera Cervantes, aged 59, had long operated with a sense of invincibility, according to Mike Vigil, a former official from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Vigil suggested that the death of Oseguera Cervantes could temporarily disrupt the flow of fentanyl and methamphetamine into the United States.
The deceased cartel leader, wanted by U.S. authorities for over a decade, was subject to a $15 million reward offered by the U.S. government last year. Oseguera Cervantes had a history of run-ins with the law, including arrests in the U.S., where he served time for criminal activities before being deported to Mexico. In Mexico, he even worked as a police officer in Jalisco before transitioning to cartel activities.
Furthermore, Oseguera Cervantes’s family members have also faced legal troubles, with his wife and daughter having served time in the U.S. for criminal offenses. Notably, his son, Rubén Oseguera González, known as El Menchito, was sentenced to life in prison in the U.S. last year, with accusations of involvement in drug-related violence and trafficking.
The death of El Mencho is expected to escalate violence in the region, with ongoing retaliatory attacks reported after the operation. The CJNG’s actions have drawn attention from U.S. law enforcement agencies, making it a primary focus following the decline of other major cartels. Vigil emphasized the need for Mexico to capitalize on the turmoil within the cartel to dismantle its operations effectively.
