A golden casket carrying the remains of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” traveled under heavy military guard from a Guadalajara funeral home to a cemetery in Zapopan on Sunday, following his death in a military operation on February 22nd. The procession, comprised of approximately 25 kilometers of vehicles from the Guardia Nacional and the Mexican Army, was monitored from the air by a military helicopter, according to reports from the scene.
The funeral cortege arrived at the Recinto de la Paz cemetery, where security measures prevented unauthorized access. Attendees, largely women dressed in black, mourned the deceased leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). During the service, traditional corridos – ballads often composed to honor figures in the drug trade – were played, one of which reportedly lamented that all that remains after death is “just a handful of dirt.”
The volume of floral tributes was substantial, requiring six cranes to remove the arrangements from the funeral home, according to reports. The flowers included roses in red and white, some shaped as angel wings or crosses, and notably, large figures of roosters – a reference to Oseguera’s nickname, “El Señor de los Gallos” (The Lord of the Roosters). Remarkably, none of the floral arrangements included cards identifying the senders, reflecting the secrecy surrounding the criminal organization.
El Mencho’s death, confirmed by authorities, occurred during a military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, approximately 135 kilometers south of Guadalajara. The operation took place in a series of cabins. His death triggered a wave of violence across 20 Mexican states, with reports of arson, and vandalism.
On Sunday, following the funeral, an Italian student was reportedly assaulted by individuals believed to be affiliated with the cartel whereas attempting to document the event. The incident occurred as authorities continued to respond to the fallout from El Mencho’s death, which had already resulted in over 70 fatalities.
The U.S. Government and the Mexican government had both offered substantial rewards for information leading to Oseguera Cervantes’ arrest – up to $15 million from the U.S. And 300 million Mexican pesos from Mexico’s Office of the Attorney General. He was wanted for drug trafficking, organized crime involvement, and illegal possession of firearms. Born in 1966 in Michoacán, Oseguera Cervantes had a history of involvement in criminal organizations, including the Milenio Cartel, before founding the CJNG.