Joaquín “El Mencho” Oseguera: The Rise and Fall of CJNG’s Cartel Kingpin

Notorious Mexican Cartel Leader “El Mencho” Killed in Military Operation

Ruben “Nemesio” Oseguera Cervantes, the powerful leader of Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) known as “El Mencho,” was killed Sunday during a Mexican military operation, authorities confirmed. His death marks the elimination of one of the world’s most wanted drug kingpins who had risen to prominence following the capture of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed the development on social media, calling it “a great development for Mexico, the U.S., Latin America and the world.” A senior State Department official separately verified Oseguera’s death, referring to Landau’s statement.

Oseguera, a former police officer, co-founded CJNG around 2009 after breaking away from the Sinaloa Cartel. Under his leadership, what began as a regional faction evolved into one of Mexico’s most dominant criminal enterprises, aggressively expanding across the country and battling the Sinaloa Cartel for control of key drug trafficking routes into the United States.

Security experts had long considered Oseguera among the most significant architects of the fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking networks that have fueled addiction crises across North America. Former DEA official Paul Craine once described him as “public enemy No. 1,” commanding “an army of thousands.”

The U.S. government had placed a bounty of up to $15 million for information leading to Oseguera’s capture or conviction, one of the highest rewards ever offered for a fugitive, reflecting his status as a priority target for international law enforcement.

CJNG gained notoriety for its particularly brutal tactics and willingness to directly confront Mexican security forces. In 2015, the cartel orchestrated a sophisticated attack in Jalisco state in which cartel gunmen used rocket-propelled grenades to down a military helicopter. The group was known for its public displays of force and strategic use of social media to project power and intimidate rivals.

Following Oseguera’s death, the State Department issued travel alerts for multiple regions of Mexico, including parts of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo León. U.S. citizens were urged to shelter in place due to “ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity.” Reports indicate several vehicles have been set on fire in apparent retaliatory attacks.

Security analysts suggest that Oseguera’s death could trigger significant power struggles within CJNG and potentially reshape Mexico’s criminal landscape. The cartel has extensive operations throughout Mexico and maintains distribution networks across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

The operation that killed Oseguera comes amid continuing U.S. pressure on Mexico to take stronger action against cartels responsible for trafficking fentanyl and other synthetic drugs into the United States. Both countries have faced criticism over their strategies in combating drug trafficking organizations, with violence continuing to plague many regions of Mexico.

CJNG is believed to control territory in at least 24 of Mexico’s 32 states and has been linked to thousands of murders. Under Oseguera’s leadership, the organization expanded rapidly from its base in Jalisco state to challenge the dominance of older cartels, employing extreme violence and sophisticated military-style tactics.

While Mexican authorities will likely frame Oseguera’s death as a significant victory in the fight against organized crime, experts caution that the removal of cartel leaders often leads to fragmentation and increased violence as subordinates battle for control. How the cartel’s operations and leadership will evolve in the coming weeks will be closely watched by security agencies on both sides of the border.