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In the wake of powerful Mexican narcotrafficker Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera’s death, his cartel’s response has extended beyond physical violence to include a sophisticated disinformation campaign using artificial intelligence, security officials report.
The killing of Oseguera, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in a military operation on Sunday triggered widespread criminal violence across 20 of Mexico’s 32 states. As cartel members burned vehicles and blockaded roads throughout the country, a parallel digital offensive unfolded on social media platforms.
AFP’s fact-checking team in Mexico analyzed approximately a dozen fake images and videos related to the military operation and its aftermath. These fabricated visuals were shared more than 38,500 times across various social media platforms, significantly amplifying the perception of chaos.
One widely circulated AI-generated image depicted the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta engulfed in flames. While CJNG members did cause damage in the Pacific coast resort town, including burning vehicles and vandalizing businesses, the actual destruction was far less severe than what these falsified images portrayed.
“Behind this digital mobilization are accounts tied to Oseguera’s CJNG,” said Alberto Escorcia, a journalist specializing in social media analysis. Escorcia identified three main groups disseminating false information during the violence. “One was the Jalisco Cartel, magnifying the chaos,” he explained to AFP.
Additionally, Escorcia noted that “opportunists” participated in spreading disinformation, leveraging the situation to promote various political agendas both domestically and internationally. Several of these accounts had previously been identified by AFP as sources of disinformation across Latin America.
After publishing his findings about the disinformation campaign on platform X, Escorcia himself became a target, receiving threats on social media.
Mexico’s Security Secretary, Omar Garcia Harfuch, confirmed the government has identified numerous social media accounts involved in spreading disinformation related to the operation. “We’re going to do a deeper job to find out what relationship they have to the criminal organization, while others were only dedicated to disinformation,” he stated during a press conference.
Beyond spreading false information about the scale of violence, researchers observed a troubling pattern of expressions supporting the deceased drug lord. “There was a notable and sustained volume of publications and comments with expressions of admiration, mourning,” and “aspirational identification” with Oseguera, according to Valeria Almaguer, subdirector of the Seminar on Violence and Peace at the College of Mexico.
Her research team, examining Instagram, TikTok, and X, found numerous messages lamenting “El Mencho’s” death, often accompanied by CJNG-associated emojis and “narco-corridos” – popular songs celebrating criminal organizations.
These findings align with previous research documenting over 100 TikTok accounts dedicated to criminal recruitment and propaganda. “The CJNG leads the use of TikTok as a channel of recruitment and propaganda,” the College of Mexico researchers stated in a report published in April 2025.
Mexican authorities have previously identified and addressed the cartel’s social media recruitment efforts. In March 2025, following the discovery of a CJNG training center in Jalisco, the Security Secretary’s Office identified 39 TikTok profiles dedicated to recruiting young people. These accounts were subsequently removed at the government’s request.
The dual strategy of physical violence and digital disinformation represents an evolution in cartel tactics, combining traditional intimidation methods with modern technology to maximize impact and potentially recruit new members during periods of transition and instability.
Prior to his death, Oseguera was the most wanted narcotrafficker in the United States, with American authorities offering a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.
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8 Comments
The blending of physical and digital tactics by the cartel is a chilling development. Curious to hear if security experts have insights on how to better counter this multi-pronged approach.
While the real-world violence is devastating, it’s clear the cartel is also waging a parallel information war. Fact-checking efforts are important, but the scale of the disinformation campaign is concerning.
This highlights how cartels are increasingly leveraging technology to spread fear and chaos. Curious to see if tougher content moderation or other policy responses could help curb the spread of these fabricated visuals.
Agreed, the use of AI to generate fake images is particularly alarming. Regulators and platforms will need innovative solutions to stay ahead of these evolving tactics.
Fake imagery and videos can be so powerful in shaping perceptions, especially around high-stakes events. Glad to see fact-checkers are working to debunk the misinformation, but the cartel’s digital strategies are clearly quite sophisticated.
You’re right, it’s a concerning trend. Social media platforms need to do more to detect and remove this kind of coordinated disinformation campaign.
Concerning to see how cartels are exploiting social media and AI to spread disinformation and amplify the chaos. Even in the digital age, the violence and disruption they sow has real impacts on innocent people.
This is a sobering reminder of how criminal groups can exploit new technologies to spread fear and confusion. Rigorous fact-checking is crucial, but the cartel’s digital capabilities seem worryingly advanced.