Mexico’s Most-Wanted Fentanyl Kingpin “El Mencho” Killed in Military Operation

Mexico’s most-wanted drug lord, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was killed Sunday following a sophisticated tracking operation that led authorities to his hideout in Jalisco state, Mexican officials announced Monday.

The operation that brought down the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) began on February 20, when military intelligence identified and located a trusted associate connected to one of Oseguera Cervantes’s romantic partners. According to Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, this associate transported the partner to a cabin in Tapalpa, Jalisco, for an overnight meeting with the cartel leader.

“On February 20, through central military intelligence work, a man of trust of one of El Mencho’s romantic partners was located, who took her to a facility in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco,” Trevilla Trejo explained during a news conference.

Intelligence confirmed that while the partner departed the following day, Oseguera Cervantes remained at the location with a small security contingent. This intelligence prompted authorities to mobilize Army Special Forces and the National Guard’s Immediate Reaction Force to carry out the high-stakes operation.

Aerial surveillance had spotted Oseguera Cervantes’ inner circle openly carrying illegal high-caliber weapons, including rocket launchers and long guns, which gave authorities cause to raid the private property. The sophisticated weaponry highlighted the extraordinary firepower the CJNG has accumulated in its rise to become one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations.

During the raid, Oseguera Cervantes’ security detail reportedly opened fire “very violently” on military personnel, forcing Special Forces to engage the attackers. Officials reported that eight cartel members were killed in the initial phase of the operation—correcting earlier reports that had placed the number at four. Two military personnel were also wounded in the exchange.

Amid the chaos, Oseguera Cervantes and his “close circle” fled into nearby woods, officials said. After soldiers located them “hidden among the brush,” the cartel members allegedly opened fire again. Military personnel returned fire, wounding “El Mencho” and two of his escorts.

Military medics determined that the injuries to Oseguera Cervantes and his two escorts were critical, necessitating an immediate helicopter evacuation. All three died during transport, according to official accounts.

The death of “El Mencho” represents one of Mexico’s most significant blows against organized crime in recent years. Oseguera Cervantes had carried a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head and had risen to prominence following the arrest of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Under his leadership, the CJNG became a dominant force in the trafficking of fentanyl to the United States, contributing significantly to the opioid crisis that has claimed tens of thousands of American lives. The cartel’s operations spanned much of Mexico, with a reputation for extreme violence and sophisticated military-style tactics.

In anticipation of retaliatory violence from the cartel, authorities deployed 2,500 reinforcements to join the 7,000 security personnel already stationed in Jalisco state. Reports of burning vehicles and roadblocks emerged from Puerto Vallarta and other locations shortly after news of the operation spread.

The operation comes amid increased pressure from the United States for Mexico to take stronger action against cartel leaders, particularly those involved in the fentanyl trade. Former President Donald Trump had called for intensified crackdowns on cartel violence, and U.S.-Mexico cooperation on drug enforcement has been a critical but often contentious issue between the neighboring countries.

Mexican newspaper headlines highlighted this cooperation, with one front page noting “U.S. mapped ‘El Mencho’ and Mexico delivered the final blow.” This suggests significant intelligence sharing between the two nations led to the successful operation.

The death of “El Mencho” creates a potential power vacuum in Mexico’s criminal landscape that could lead to further violence as factions within the CJNG and rival organizations vie for control of lucrative trafficking routes and territories.