The Mexican army announced on Sunday that it had killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, during a high-risk operation that triggered violent reprisals across several states.
Oseguera, who carried a $15 million US bounty, was wounded in a clash with soldiers in Tapalpa, Jalisco, and died while being transported to Mexico City, the military said.
In retaliation for the raid, cartel gunmen blocked over 20 roads in western Jalisco, setting cars and trucks ablaze. The violence spread to other regions, prompting at least eight states to suspend in-person classes, while the judiciary authorized judges to close courts where necessary. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged citizens to remain calm amid the unrest.
The army stated that the operation relied not only on Mexico’s own military intelligence but also on “complementary information” from US authorities. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Washington provided intelligence support.
Six suspected cartel gunmen were killed alongside Oseguera, three soldiers were wounded, and two cartel members were arrested. Authorities also seized a cache of weapons, including rocket launchers capable of destroying armored vehicles and aircraft. In light of the violence, Jalisco, scheduled to host four World Cup games this summer, canceled all large-scale events.