After years on the run, Mexico’s powerful drug lord ‘El Mencho’ was killed in a major military operation, stemming from a seemingly harmless visit by his girlfriend.
After years of being relentlessly hunted, Mexico’s most powerful drug lord, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, was finally discovered and killed due to an unexpected detail: a visit from his girlfriend. This brief encounter in the resort town of Tapalpa paved the way for a large-scale military operation that resulted in the death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera.
Retaliatory attacks by drug cartels following the death of drug lord “El Mencho” Oseguera.
An unexpected link in the manhunt.
For years, both Mexico and the United States viewed Oseguera—the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)—as a top priority target. The 59-year-old man virtually disappeared from the reach of law enforcement, constantly changing his hiding places and protected by a heavily armed bodyguard unit.
The turning point came when Mexican investigators tracked down the woman identified as the drug lord’s girlfriend. According to Mexican Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla, investigators traced her close aide and discovered a brief meeting between the two in the resort town of Tapalpa, Jalisco state.
This woman was brought to Tapalpa – a mountain resort about 130 km from Guadalajara – by a close aide to meet “El Mencho.” After she left, the military confirmed that the drug lord remained with his bodyguards. Additional intelligence from the US helped authorities quickly pinpoint the target.
Units of the Mexican army and National Guard have established a ground blockade, while six helicopters and special forces units are on standby in the states bordering Jalisco.
Immediately after El Mencho’s death, many areas controlled by the CJNG descended into chaos. Photo: Reuters
According to General Trevilla, the Mexican Air Force also provided support through reconnaissance and aircraft deployment. Early Sunday morning, after confirming the target location, the operation was officially launched. Throughout this process, President Claudia Sheinbaum was continuously updated on the situation while on a trip to northern Mexico.
As soldiers advanced into the Tapalpa area, CJNG gunmen immediately opened fire intensely. Officials described it as one of the fiercest clashes in years, with gang members using heavy weaponry, including rocket launchers – the same type they used to shoot down a military helicopter in 2015.
“El Mencho” was discovered in the bushes.
Amid the chaos, Oseguera and his two bodyguards attempted to flee into the woods on the outskirts of Tapalpa to hide. However, the encirclement quickly tightened. The special forces discovered him hiding in the bushes, leading to a second shootout that left the drug lord seriously wounded.
CJNG gunmen still managed to hit a military helicopter, forcing it to make an emergency landing, demonstrating the fierce resistance from the drug lord’s security forces. Three soldiers were injured in the clash.
Retaliatory attacks occurred throughout Mexico.
According to General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, when the drug lord attempted to flee into the jungle, his bodyguards engaged in a shootout with Mexican soldiers, resulting in the deaths of eight gang members.
After his arrest, Oseguera and his two bodyguards were airlifted to a hospital in Guadalajara. However, all three died en route due to their severe injuries. Their bodies were then transported directly to Mexico City to prevent the risk of gang-related rescues or retaliation.
On the same day, security forces tracked down and killed Hugo H., nicknamed “El Tuli”—the right-hand man in charge of logistics and finance for the CJNG. He was accused of offering a reward of 20,000 pesos (approximately 30 million VND) for each soldier killed. He was also behind a series of retaliatory attacks across Jalisco state, where 25 National Guard members, a prison officer, a prosecutor’s office employee, and a woman believed to be a civilian were killed, along with 30 suspects.
In neighboring Michoacán state, four more gunmen were killed and 15 security personnel were wounded.
The death sparked a wave of violence nationwide.
Following the death of drug lord El Mencho, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) launched a series of retaliatory attacks, plunging several cities in western Mexico into chaos.
On February 22, CJNG gunmen simultaneously targeted numerous public areas, including Guadalajara International Airport. Houses and vehicles were set ablaze in the streets, while gunfights with security forces ensued.
Soldiers clear obstacles on the road leading to Tapalpa, Mexico. Photo: AP
In the states of Tamaulipas, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Michoacan, and Colima, armed groups burned buses and cars, erecting barricades with burning vehicles to block many roads. In the city of Guadalajara, burnt-out vehicles blocked major traffic arteries, forcing many shops to close urgently.
Thick black smoke also rose in Puerto Vallarta, a popular resort town about 320 km from Guadalajara airport. Tourists were advised to stay in their hotels. An American citizen stranded there said he saw a burning bus in the middle of the road and an armed man gesturing for everyone to turn around.
Jalisco state governor Pablo Lemus Navarro declared a “red alert,” suspending public transport and urging residents to limit their movements. Federal security forces were deployed to reinforce security and restore order, while schools were closed and large gatherings postponed until the situation stabilized.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum asserted that the operation was entirely Mexican-led, despite intelligence sharing from the United States. Analysts believe the killing of “El Mencho” is the biggest blow to the CJNG in years, but it could also spark a new power struggle between factions within the cartel.
On the social media platform Truth Social, US President Donald Trump also called on Mexico to step up its crackdown on drug cartels, an issue he has been pressuring the Mexican government on for months.
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