Photos of violence in Mexico (Photo: AP)
Mexico has experienced one of its most intense waves of violence in the past 24 hours after the killing of its most wanted drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, on Sunday.His death during a military operation in Jalisco triggered coordinated retaliation by drug cartel members that led to arson attacks, highway blockades, prison breaks and deadly clashes in several states.
As of Monday, the federal government had deployed 10,000 troops to try to regain control of the situation, with dozens of deaths reported.
how was he killed
Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, secretary-general of the Mexican Defense Ministry, said authorities tracked Oseguera by spying on one of his romantic partners.Trevilla told reporters that Mexican intelligence, backed by U.S. military intelligence, learned of the woman’s rendezvous with the cartel boss and used that information to find him at a ranch in Tapalpa, Jalisco, AFP reported.Troops launched a pre-dawn raid supported by helicopters. Security forces came under heavy gunfire as they approached. Oseguera and members of his inner circle fled to a nearby wooded area, sparking a pursuit by Special Forces.Officials said Oseguera and two of his bodyguards were injured in the confrontation. Three people later died while being flown to Mexico City for treatment. Their bodies were transported to the capital for formal identification.
Violent resistance and retaliation by cartel members
In the hours after his death was confirmed, drug cartel members launched coordinated violence.Federal authorities reported that the country woke up to no more major highway blockades after 20 states recorded 85 roadblocks.Vehicles, banks, supermarkets and other businesses were set on fire. Authorities called the unrest one of the most widespread and organized backlashes in the country in recent years.Officials said at least 27 security personnel, 46 suspects and one civilian were killed during the military operation and subsequent clashes.In many areas, residents remained indoors as armed groups erected barricades and burned vehicles. Fear gripped Jalisco, the cartel’s traditional stronghold, and quickly spread elsewhere.
Deploy 10,000 troops
The Mexican government has sent 2,500 additional troops to the state of Jalisco in an effort to curb the violence, officials said on Monday, bringing the total number of security personnel sent to affected areas since Sunday to 10,000.Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum insisted that no U.S. troops were involved in the capture.While White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt confirmed that Washington “provided intelligence support,” Scheinbaum said no U.S. troops were involved in the attack.The government suspended public transportation in parts of Jalisco state and directed hotels to tell guests to stay indoors. Authorities said the situation had largely returned to calm by Monday, but tensions remained high.
Jalisco Jailbreak
Gunmen attacked a prison in a hail of bullets and at least 23 inmates escaped, according to the national security minister. Officials blamed the attack on a “criminal gang”.The prison attack heightened concerns that the drug cartel is mobilizing on multiple fronts to demonstrate its strength even after the death of its leader.
Issue international travel warning
The U.S. government advises its citizens to “shelter in place until further notice” in parts of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon.The UK, Canada and the US issued travel warnings, while Australia urged travelers to “exercise a degree of caution”.Several flights in the United States and Canada were canceled as airlines reassessed routes to affected areas.
Daily life disrupted in major cities
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state and one of the host cities for this year’s World Cup, has been severely affected. Schools are closed, public transportation is suspended, and government offices are temporarily closed. Residents lined up outside small grocery stores and taco shops to buy supplies. Pharmacies were closed.The violence also spread to Puerto Vallarta, a major tourist destination. As unrest spreads across the region, tourists and locals alike have sought shelter.
Soldiers continue clashes with drug cartel gunmen
Grocery stores in Puerto Vallarta reopened Monday morning, with long lines forming outside the stores. However, in-person classes remain suspended in several states, including Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima and Michoacan, as a precautionary measure.State oil company Pemex said operations continue to be normal and fuel supplies are guaranteed. Airports resumed operations, but some airlines reported flight delays and cancellations.Yet peace is fragile.Gunshots echoed intermittently through the area, and just outside the town limits, a man’s body lay next to a bullet-riddled Jeep, the Associated Press reported.Heavily armed Mexican security forces continue to fight drug cartel gunmen following the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” His death triggered a wave of revenge attacks that put much of the country on edge.Cartel militants set up roadblocks in several areas, with smoke billowing from burning vehicles and roadblocks on the outskirts of Tapalpa.President Claudia Sheinbaum said “almost all activities have resumed,” CNN reported.
Who is “El Mencho”?
Born in 1966 to peasant parents, Oceguera rose from humble beginnings to become one of Mexico’s most feared criminal figures.After moving to California as a teenager, he twice faced drug trafficking charges in the United States. After returning to Mexico, he briefly worked as a police officer before deepening his involvement in organized crime.In 1996, he married Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, linking him to an influential criminal network. He later broke away from the Sinaloa cartel and founded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) around 2009.Under his leadership, the CJNG expanded aggressively, forming alliances with smaller gangs and expanding operations beyond its base in western Mexico.The U.S. government has offered a reward of $15 million to him. Christopher Landau described him as “one of the bloodiest and most brutal drug lords”.
What is the Jalisco New Generation Cartel?
The CJNG became a powerful competitor to the Sinaloa cartel and became one of Mexico’s major trafficking organizations.According to US estimates, the organization has 15,000 to 20,000 members and generates billions of dollars in revenue each year. The group’s activities include drug trafficking, extortion, fuel theft, kidnapping, illegal logging and mining, and migrant smuggling.The CJNG is known for its brutality, carrying out public executions, attacking officials and spreading fear through acts of violence often circulated on social media.The U.S. State Department last year designated the cartel a foreign terrorist organization, accusing it of shipping cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States.The operation comes amid increased pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump on Mexico to step up efforts to crack down on drug trafficking networks or face economic consequences.Washington has repeatedly cited the CJNG’s role in fentanyl trafficking as a major concern.Oceguera’s death is seen as a major achievement for Mexico’s security forces. However, experts warn that eliminating cartel leaders will not automatically dissolve the group.At present, although the apparent unrest in some areas has subsided, the security situation remains serious and residents’ anxiety remains.
