Cartel Leader El Mencho Killed in Mexican Military Raid, Mayhem Ensues, Trapping Tourists

Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," was killed in a Mexican military operation on Sunday, in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco. The operation, carried out by Mexican special forces, targeted the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most powerful and fastest-growing criminal organizations. He was wounded during a shootout and died while being transported to Mexico City.

Following his death, widespread retaliatory violence erupted across Mexico, particularly in Jalisco and neighboring states. Cartel members blocked highways with burning vehicles, torched businesses, and attacked security forces. In Jalisco alone, 25 members of the National Guard were killed in six separate attacks, and at least 73 people died overall, including security personnel, cartel members, and civilians. The violence disrupted transportation, forced school closures, and led to emergency measures across the region.

In Puerto Vallarta, a major tourist destination in Jalisco, residents and visitors described scenes of chaos as plumes of smoke rose over the city.

Airports in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara saw flight cancellations, and taxi and rideshare services were suspended. Over 250 roadblocks were reported nationwide, with 65 in Jalisco, prompting emergency protocols and shelter-in-place advisories.

In the aftermath, Hugo César Macías Ureña, known as "El Tuli", El Mencho’s right-hand man and top financial and logistics chief, was identified as the mastermind behind the wave of retaliatory violence.

El Tuli orchestrated roadblocks, arson attacks, and assaults on government facilities across Jalisco and other states, offering a 20,000-peso ($1,160) bounty for every soldier killed. He was killed in a shootout with security forces in El Grullo, Jalisco, during a separate operation. Authorities seized over 7.2 million pesos ($965,000 in U.S. currency), weapons, and his escape vehicle.

President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the situation on Monday, stating that while violence was concentrated in certain areas, "in the vast majority of the national territory, activities are proceeding with complete normality." She reaffirmed Mexico’s sovereignty, pledging to strengthen cooperation with the U.S. while opposing any unilateral military action by the U.S. in Mexican territory.

General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, Mexico’s Defense Secretary, revealed at a press conference on Monday, that the location of El Mencho, was pinpointed through surveillance of a trusted associate of one of his romantic partners.

The associate escorted the woman to a compound in Tapalpa, Jalisco, on Friday, where she met El Mencho. After she left the next day, authorities confirmed he remained at the site, enabling a coordinated operation by Mexican special forces, the National Guard, and Air Force units.

White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the U.S. provided intelligence support for the operation, calling it a "great development" for Mexico, the U.S., and Latin America. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau praised the operation, describing El Mencho as "one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins." The U.S. had offered a $15 million bounty for information leading to his capture.

Oseguera Cervantes, 59, was a former police officer who co-founded the CJNG around 2007. The cartel is a major supplier of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine to the U.S. and has pioneered violent tactics, including drone attacks and mine installations. The U.S. had offered a $15 million reward for his capture.

The U.S. designated the CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization in January 2026. The operation marked a major escalation in U.S.-Mexico counter-cartel cooperation under President Sheinbaum, with intelligence sharing significantly expanded through joint channels tied to U.S. Northern Command.

Sheinbaum was widely criticized for rejecting Trump's offer to send in American troops to permanently root out the narcoterrorists who have operated freely in Mexico through extreme violence and bribery of corrupt politicians allegedly including the preisdent herself.

Mexico has reportedly quietly shipped nearly 100 suspected cartel drug traffickers to the US to stand trial charges after President Trump branded the groups foreign terrorist organizations last year — and pressured the Mexican government to cooperate.

The suspects include the brother of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes — the brutal Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG) leader who was killed by the Mexican army on Sunday.

The Justice Department said many of the 92 defendants released to the Americans had US extradition requests that were not honored during the Biden administration

The Mexican government elected to round up the dozens of wanted criminals after the Trump administration made clear it was taking these matters more seriously, the DOJ said.

“This is another landmark achievement in the Trump Administration’s mission to destroy the cartels,” Bondi said of the latest round of handovers announced last month.

The alleged cartel members, “including terrorists from the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, and others – will now pay for their crimes against the American people on American soil,” she added.

Among the first tranche of narco-criminals flown into the US by Mexican military aircraft last February was Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, nicknamed Tony Montana after “Scarface.” He allegedly helped lead CJNG alongside “El Mencho,” and he’s charged with cocaine and meth trafficking.

In January, the US took custody of Sinaloa cartel bigwig Pedro Inzunza Noriega, who along with his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, led one of the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl production networks in the world.

Together they were responsible for trafficking tens of thousands of kilograms of the deadly narcotic into the US.

In total the Mexican military has transported 92 dangerous fugitives to the US in three batches starting last February. They are wanted for crimes ranging from human- and drug-trafficking to money laundering, racketeering and murder.

The cases will be prosecuted in 13 states and the District of Columbia.

Those convicted will serve out their sentences in the US before being deported to their country of origin, according to the Justice Department — though many of them are facing life sentences for their crimes.

August’s roundup included Kevin Gil Acosta and Martin Zazueta Perez, leaders of the security apparatus for the Chapitos, a powerful faction of the Sinaloa Cartel that engages in prolific fentanyl trafficking.

Both men have led sicarios armed with military-style weapons like M-16s, AK-47s, AR-15s and grenade launchers in attacks against the Mexican government and military.