The leader of Mexico's most feared and violent criminal organization, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) , was killed today during an army operation. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes —better known as "El Mencho" —was intercepted and killed near the town of Tapalpa, also in the state of Jalisco.
Jalisco State Governor Pablo Lemus, meanwhile, has declared a "red code" across the state, warning residents to stay indoors due to clashes sparked by cartel members. "We remain in a red code alert. We reiterate our recommendation not to leave your home. Clashes are ongoing in several states. The federal government will provide official information on the events shortly," Lemus wrote in a post published on X.
Security alerts have also been issued in the states of Guanajuato and Baja California, while the United States government issued a statement warning its citizens in the states of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, and Nuevo León to "remain indoors due to ongoing security operations, related roadblocks, and criminal activity."
El Mencho was a top security target of both Claudia Sheinbaum's government and the administration of US President Donald Trump, who had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture. In terms of significance and impact, his death can only be compared to the arrests of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in July 2014 and Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the two leaders of the now-extinct Sinaloa Cartel. Like them, "El Mencho" had built a reputation as a relentless and unreachable leader, fueled by brutal violence and the overwhelming power he wielded through the CJNG.
