el mencho or Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantesleader of the feared Jalisco New Generation drug cartel (CICC) was killed in a military attack on Sunday. El Mencho was seriously injured in a shootout in the western state of Jalisco and died en route to Mexico, according to the Mexican Defense Ministry. mexico city.
El Mencho’s death was followed by a wave of violence in several states, with cars set on fire and gunmen blocking highways. Details of an operation in Jalisco state that claimed the life of a feared drug cartel leader have emerged amid ongoing tensions.
Operation El Mencho: A detailed account
Mexico’s Defense Department released a post detailing how the operation failed amid the wave of unrest triggered by El Mencho’s death.
Mexican Army Special Forces were involved in the operation, acting on intelligence from the National Intelligence Center and the Attorney General’s Office (FEMDO). During the operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, multiple Air Force and National Guard immediate response special forces aircraft intervened to help detain El Mencho.
Military personnel were reportedly attacked during the operation and retaliated, resulting in the death of four CJNG members on the spot. Three people were seriously injured and killed during the transfer to Mexico City, authorities said. While one of the people who died during transport was identified as El Mencho, the latest news indicates that authorities will work to formally identify the victims.
In addition, two members of the group were detained and various weapons and armored vehicles were allegedly seized. According to official updates, these include rocket launchers capable of shooting down aircraft and destroying armored vehicles.
Three law enforcement officers were also injured during the operation. According to the latest news, they were transferred to a medical facility in Mexico City for medical care. The post noted that the United States helped provide intelligence that aided the operation. “It should be noted that for the execution of this operation, in addition to central military intelligence work, additional information was provided by the US authorities within the framework of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the United States,” it said.
The post also noted that National Guard and Army personnel from states surrounding Jalisco are focused on securing the area.
The military operation against Oseguera comes after Donald Trump’s administration put pressure on Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum’s government to step up its crackdown on drug trafficking, including threats of direct U.S. intervention in Mexico.
(With information from Reuters)
