Mexican authorities confirmed that Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," leader of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), was killed during a federal operation on February 22 in Tapalpa, Jalisco, approximately 130 kilometers south of Guadalajara, according to El Financiero and Expansion MX. Oseguera Cervantes died while being transported for medical care following the confrontation.
The operation involved significant violence, resulting in numerous casualties among various groups. Mexican security officials reported that 25 members of the National Guard and about 30 CJNG members were killed, with additional civilian deaths. Multiple narcoblocades, vehicle fires, and attacks on police and infrastructure took place across the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato, and Michoacán, El Financiero detailed.
This federal action was reportedly conducted with support from U.S. authorities, which played a key role in the intelligence and execution phases of the operation, as described by El Financiero. The U.S. had long sought Oseguera Cervantes, placing a sizable bounty on his capture, according to multiple reports.
El Mencho was buried on March 4 in Zapopan, Jalisco, in a gold coffin valued at approximately 240,000 pesos (around $12,000), one of only seven such coffins in existence. His funeral included heightened security with a notable presence of federal forces to prevent retaliatory violence or disruptions, El Financiero reported.
Going forward, attention will focus on the CJNG’s leadership succession and the federal and regional governments' strategies for curtailing the cartel's influence. The wave of violence following El Mencho’s death raises concerns about potential power struggles and escalating conflict across multiple Mexican states.
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes
Jalisco
Tapalpa
CJNG
El Mencho
Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación
Mexico
United States
