Mexico: drug lord El Mencho killed by the military

El Mencho, whose real name was Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, died during a military raid carried out by Mexican security forces in cooperation with US authorities. The gangster had been wanted in both Mexico and the United States. The Trump administration had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture, and the CJNG had been designated as a terrorist organization. The cartel is responsible, among other things, for smuggling cocaine and fentanyl into the United States. According to Mexico’s Ministry of Defense, the US role in the operation was limited to providing intelligence data. The White House confirmed its involvement.

CJNG is one of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartels, operating virtually throughout the entire country. Following El Mencho’s death, a wave of violence has swept across Mexico. Retaliatory actions by the cartel have been reported in at least thirteen Mexican states, including the burning of trucks, buses, and commercial establishments. American and Canadian airlines have canceled flights to Mexico. For those already in the country, the US Department of State has urged people to remain in safe locations. “Due to ongoing, large-scale security operations and associated roadblocks and criminal activity in multiple regions of Mexico, U.S. citizens should remain in secure locations until further notice.”

Mexico has struggled for years with the activities of drug cartels — large, heavily armed groups capable of challenging state authorities. The operations of these cartels are transnational in nature, with the United States remaining one of their key markets. As a result, many Americans are addicted to drugs that prevent them from functioning in society, leading to rising homelessness and crime rates across the country.

Since Donald Trump took office as president, the US has increased pressure on the Mexican government to intensify its fight against drug cartels. However, the scale of the problem remains vast, and Mexican law enforcement agencies are unable to handle the cartels on their own. Therefore, cooperation with US agencies—particularly in the exchange of intelligence information—remains crucial.