The Mexican government has deployed 10,000 troops to quell spasms of violence that erupted across the country following the death of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), officials confirmed on Monday. At least 25 National Guard members were killed in subsequent clashes, alongside a prison guard, a member of the state prosecutor's office and 30 suspected members of Oseguera's criminal organization, Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch said. Eight suspected cartel gunmen died in the special forces operation to capture him and three soldiers were wounded, Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla added.
The Operation That Took Down El Mencho
El Mencho, 59, was seriously wounded on Sunday in a shootout with soldiers in the wooded highlands of Tapalpa, a municipality in the western state of Jalisco, and died while being flown to Mexico City for medical treatment. The operation was the culmination of long-term surveillance by Mexican military intelligence, which located a romantic partner of the cartel leader and tracked her to his hideout. While Mexican officials emphasized that all operations were carried out by federal forces with no direct US involvement, they acknowledged receiving "complementary information" from American agencies. The CIA provided intelligence that was "instrumental in removing" the cartel leader, according to sources briefed on the operation. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Washington "provided intelligence support," describing El Mencho as a "top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland". The US State Department had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Nationwide Retaliation and Chaos
News of El Mencho's death triggered an immediate and violent response from cartel members, who blocked roads in 20 states and torched vehicles and businesses. In some towns, they threw spikes and nails onto tarmac; in others, they commandeered buses and other vehicles and set them ablaze in the middle of highways. Authorities reported more than 250 incidents of road blockades across the affected states, with 27 attacks on security forces. Fearful residents went into hiding and tourists took shelter in their hotels and resorts. In the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, popular with US tourists, videos showed black smoke billowing from burning cars in several neighborhoods, with one tourist describing the scene as looking "like a war zone". Around 300 visitors were stuck at Puerto Vallarta's airport after flights were cancelled due to the violence. The governor of Jalisco declared a "code red," halting all public transport and cancelling mass events and in-person classes.
International Travel Disruption and Warnings
The violence prompted widespread international travel disruption and urgent warnings from multiple governments. All international flights to Puerto Vallarta Airport were cancelled on Sunday, with the airport placed under military protection. Airlines including United, Delta, American, Alaska, Air Canada and WestJet cancelled flights or waived rebooking fees for affected passengers. The US State Department urged citizens in affected areas to shelter in place, listing Jalisco, Baja California, Quintana Roo, Nayarit, and other states as high-risk, including popular tourist destinations like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and several European countries issued similar advisories, urging citizens to exercise extreme caution and follow local authorities' guidance. Some cruise itineraries were also disrupted, with Royal Princess, Holland America's Zuiderdam and Norwegian Bliss cancelling scheduled stops in Puerto Vallarta. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed hope that flight operations would fully resume by Tuesday and stressed that "in most parts of the country, activities are proceeding normally".
The Man and His Empire
El Mencho was considered the last of the drug lords who acted in the brutal mold of the now-imprisoned Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada of the rival Sinaloa cartel. A founding member of CJNG, which was formed in 2009, he oversaw its evolution into a heavily militarized global enterprise with supply chains spanning the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa. The US government identified the group as a major driver of the fentanyl crisis, prompting the Trump administration to designate it as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025. Under El Mencho's leadership, the cartel distinguished itself through extreme brutality and willingness to directly confront the state, including shooting down a Mexican military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade in 2015 and carrying out a brazen assassination attempt on Mexico City's police chief in 2020. El Mencho personally amassed a fortune estimated between $500 million and $1 billion, while the cartel's total assets were valued as high as $50 billion.
The Succession Question
El Mencho's death leaves a power vacuum at the top of one of Mexico's most powerful criminal organizations, raising the risk of violent fragmentation as rival factions compete for control. Succession is complicated by the incarceration of several family members who managed the cartel's finances. His son, Ruben "El Menchito" Oseguera Gonzalez, was convicted by a federal jury in Washington in September and is serving a life sentence in the United States. Mexican media and intelligence reports have identified several potential successors. Juan Carlos Valencia Gonzalez, known as "El 03" or "R3," is El Mencho's stepson and is credited with creating and commanding the cartel's elite paramilitary wing, making him a formidable contender despite questions about his broader influence. Audias Flores Silva, "El Jardinero," is described as the logistical brain of the organization, responsible for territorial administration and protecting cartel megaprojects. Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytan, "El Sapo," represents the military wing and controls the lucrative Puerto Vallarta corridor. Other names include Julio Alberto Castillo Rodriguez, "El Chorro," a son-in-law who operates in the port of Manzanillo, and Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, "Doble R," who commands operations in the Guadalajara metropolitan area. Experts warn that the "absence of a direct succession" could open the door to violent realignments within the organization. As David Mora of the Crisis Group analysis center noted, "That opens the door to violent realignments within the organisation".