In recent days, violence has erupted in Mexico following the military’s killing of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco state, on February 22. El Mencho was the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in Mexico.
Mexican Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla said authorities tracked El Mencho down while he was meeting with a girlfriend. The drug lord was seriously wounded in a shootout between his bodyguards and military commandos. He died while being escorted by the military from the town of Tapalpa to Mexico City.
Mexican Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said retaliatory attacks by the CJNG gang killed 25 National Guard members, one security guard, and one civilian. Harfuch said 30 gang fighters were killed, according to The Guardian.
Serious riots broke out, thousands of soldiers were deployed to quell them.
As news of El Mencho’s death spread, members of his gang launched attacks in numerous towns and cities where the CJNG operated. In some places, they scattered nails and sharp objects on the roads to block traffic; in others, they hijacked buses and other vehicles and set them on fire in the middle of the road.
The group set fire to vehicles, blocked highways, and forced numerous businesses to close in order to demonstrate their strength, showcasing the CJNG’s operational capabilities even without a leader.
The city of Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) was set ablaze by members of the CJNG gang on February 22. Photo: Gerardo Santillan/EPA/Shutterstock
Just hours after the military operation, the gang launched hundreds of coordinated “drug-style blockades” across approximately 20 states nationwide, paralyzing major cities like Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.
In response to the wave of violence, Mexico has deployed thousands of soldiers to bolster security. Mexican Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla said 2,500 soldiers were deployed to western Mexico on February 23. The government says a total of approximately 9,500 soldiers have been deployed since February 22.
The situation subsequently calmed down somewhat. On the morning of February 23, both Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Security Minister Harfuch announced that all lockdowns in the 20 states had been lifted.
However, in a social media post on the evening of February 23, Mexico’s security cabinet acknowledged that “some lockdown points” had been set up in Jalisco that day. The security cabinet – comprising officials from various federal security forces along with the Ministry of Security and the Ministry of Interior – stated that 83% of the new lockdown points had been lifted, but seven remained active.
Mexico News reported on February 24th that numerous acts of violence and vandalism continue to be recorded in Guadalajara (Jalisco state) – the main stronghold of the CJNG – and surrounding areas.
Jalisco state governor Pablo Lemus announced on February 24 that public transport services have returned to normal throughout the state.
He also reported that the largest wholesale market in Guadalajara, Mercado de Abastos, was operating normally and emphasized that businesses had reopened.
“I acknowledge the efforts of transport workers, service providers, laborers, entrepreneurs and society as a whole. Together, we will restore our state and our city,” Lemus wrote, adding that the state government has deployed sufficient personnel to ensure the restoration of public transport services, as well as the supply of food and services to the hospitality sector and the general population.”
Many vehicles were burned in Puerto Vallarta following the death of drug lord El Mencho. Photo: Juan Carlos Williams/EL UNIVERSAL
No more “Hug instead of shoot”
From the Mexican government’s perspective, the operation to kill drug lord El Mencho shows a shift in approach under President Sheinbaum. Her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, had pursued a policy famously known as “Abrazos, no balazos” (Embrace instead of shoot).
“This time, a tough stance has been adopted,” observes Jean-Michel Le Prince, a journalist for Radio-Canada and author of *La faute à Pablo Escobar*, attributing the shift to two factors: domestic security pressures and expectations from the United States.
Under U.S. President Donald Trump, Washington increased pressure on Mexico to dismantle major drug trafficking networks. Sheinbaum swiftly extradited notorious drug lords and intensified the militarization of several border areas.
“She is clearly taking the initiative,” said Le Prince, suggesting that the move could also be aimed at preventing the possibility of the U.S. acting unilaterally.
However, experts warn that this development could also have long-term political repercussions , as a prolonged crackdown on gangs would create new political dilemmas and risks. According to Le Prince, the large-scale blockades launched by the gangs immediately after El Mencho’s death serve as a reminder that these are massive criminal organizations that cannot simply disappear overnight.
In the case of the CJNG, most experts believe it is unlikely that the gang will disappear. The Guardian quotes US officials as saying that the gang is as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, which has a presence in all 50 US states.
With the CJNG cartel “earning billions of dollars from the production of fentanyl and methamphetamine,” production is likely to continue, according to U.S. officials.
The long-term impact in Mexico largely “depends on the succession plan the CJNG has prepared in case Cervantes is captured or killed,” according to The Independent. The wave of violence will likely continue following the power transition. The severity will depend on the gang itself, but typically, campaigns to eliminate gang leaders lead to increased violence and the fragmentation of criminal groups.
“We really don’t know what will happen: the situation is extremely unstable right now. The map of gangs in Mexico has changed profoundly in recent years. The CJNG has expanded significantly,” Le Prince stated.
According to Le Prince, El Mencho is believed to have four key aides, and these aides could turn against each other. “It’s possible the cartel will be run in a more discreet way. But as is often the case in Mexico, it’s difficult to predict what will happen,” he added.
