Mexico’s most-wanted cartel leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” has been killed during a military operation targeting the leadership of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Mexican authorities have confirmed.
The raid, reportedly supported by U.S. intelligence, marks one of the most significant strikes against organised crime in recent years. The White House acknowledged providing intelligence assistance ahead of the operation. El Mencho, founder and long-time head of the CJNG, had faced multiple international arrest warrants and multi-million-dollar rewards from U.S. authorities.
His death triggered widespread unrest across the country, with Mexico’s Security Cabinet reporting more than 250 road blockades in at least 20 states. Suspected cartel members set vehicles and businesses ablaze and clashed with security forces. While many blockades have been cleared, sporadic violence continues in some regions.
Security analysts warn the operation could spark further instability, with fears of retaliatory attacks and internal power struggles within the cartel. The unrest has also disrupted travel, prompting the U.S. State Department to advise Americans in affected areas to remain indoors. Several U.S. airlines temporarily suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta amid heightened security concerns.
Authorities say efforts are underway to restore order, but experts caution that El Mencho’s killing could lead to short-term destabilisation as rival factions vie for control.