Mexican authorities have released new details explaining how Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes - the powerful head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) - was located and killed in a military operation that has since shaken much of the country.
According to Mexico's defense ministry, El Mencho was tracked after authorities followed a romantic partner to a safe house near the mountain town of Tapalpa in the western state of Jalisco. Intelligence shared by the United States helped narrow down the location, though officials stressed the operation itself was carried out entirely by Mexican forces.
The mission unfolded early Sunday and quickly escalated into a violent firefight.
A Raid in the Mountains of Jalisco
Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo said Mexican special forces surrounded a wooded cabin complex where El Mencho was believed to be hiding. As troops closed in, his bodyguards opened fire.
The exchange forced a military helicopter to make an emergency landing. In a scene reminiscent of a failed 2015 attempt to capture him - when cartel gunmen shot down a helicopter - heavy gunfire echoed through the forest.
El Mencho reportedly fled the cabin into nearby wooded terrain but was later wounded and captured during the confrontation.
He and two bodyguards were airlifted toward Mexico City for medical treatment. Officials later confirmed they died while being transported.
Seven cartel members were killed in the raid, while two Mexican soldiers were injured. Authorities also seized rifles equipped with grenade launchers and other high-powered weapons from the compound.
Intelligence Support from the United States
The United States had previously offered a $15 million reward for information leading to El Mencho's capture. Mexican officials confirmed that US intelligence contributed to locating the compound but emphasized there was no participation by American troops.
President Claudia Sheinbaum described the mission as a Mexican-led operation supported by information sharing.
Immediate Retaliation Across Mexico
Within hours of news of his death spreading, cartel gunmen launched retaliatory attacks across multiple states. Vehicles were set on fire, highways blocked, and security forces targeted - events that led to widespread travel disruptions and shelter-in-place advisories.
Our earlier report detailed how El Mencho's killing sparked violence across 20 states, leaving US tourists stranded.
Among those affected was an American mother separated from her teenage son during the lockdown as unrest spread.
Who Was El Mencho?
El Mencho, 59, was one of the world's most wanted drug traffickers and the longtime leader of the CJNG, one of Mexico's most powerful criminal organizations. The cartel became known for its military-style tactics, heavy weaponry, and rapid expansion across multiple states.
His death marks one of the most significant blows to cartel leadership in recent years. However, security analysts caution that such high-profile operations can create power vacuums that lead to further instability.
For now, authorities say blockades have largely been cleared, but security forces remain on alert as Mexico navigates the aftermath of a dramatic and consequential operation.
