Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the leader of Mexico’s Jalisco Modern Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed Sunday in a military operation, Mexican authorities confirmed Monday. The 59-year-ancient drug lord died after being wounded in clashes with the army in the town of Tapalpa, in Jalisco state, while being transported to Mexico City, according to the Mexican defense ministry.
Oseguera’s death marks a significant blow to one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations. The CJNG, under his leadership, had become notorious for its brazen attacks on Mexican officials and its growing involvement in the trafficking of fentanyl into the United States. The U.S. State Department had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Born in Aguililla, Michoacán, Oseguera initially emigrated to the United States, where he was arrested and deported on drug charges on multiple occasions, including stints in California prisons in the 1980s, and 1990s. Upon his return to Mexico, he rose through the ranks of the Milenio Cartel before eventually forming the CJNG.
The CJNG distinguished itself through its aggressive tactics and expansion across Mexico, operating in at least 28 of the country’s 32 states, according to Insight Crime. The cartel has been known for its use of sophisticated weaponry, including rocket launchers and drones, and has even manufactured its own arms. In 2020, the CJNG launched an unprecedented attack on the then-head of Mexico City’s police, Omar Garcia Harfuch, wounding him and killing three others.
Following Oseguera’s death, CJNG members retaliated by blocking more than 20 roads in western Jalisco, including in Tapalpa, with burning vehicles. Violence spread to other states, prompting the U.S. State Department to issue a shelter-in-place warning for U.S. Citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León. The warning urged citizens to remain secure until further notice due to ongoing security operations and related criminal activity.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo urged citizens to remain calm, stating that activities were proceeding normally in most parts of the country. The government is coordinating with state authorities to address the fallout from Oseguera’s death.
Oseguera’s son, Rubén Oseguera González, known as “El Menchito,” was sentenced to life in prison in the United States last year on drug and weapons charges. Oseguera’s former wife, Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, was released from prison last year after serving time for suspicious payments linked to a car wash she owned; her current whereabouts are unknown.
Jose Reveles, a journalist specializing in drug trafficking, described Oseguera as having a “violent nature” and a willingness to challenge all levels of government, a characteristic that set him apart from other cartel leaders who often employ violence more defensively.
The U.S. Department of State designated the CJNG as a terrorist organization last year, citing its involvement in fentanyl trafficking, migrant smuggling, extortion, oil and mineral theft, and arms dealing.