GUADALAJARA, Mexico — The death of one of Mexico's most notorious drug lords has ignited a wave of violence across western regions of the country, according to U.S. law enforcement experts and local reports. Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, better known as El Mencho, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed in a military operation, prompting clashes between rival groups and security forces.
Mike Vigil, a former chief of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), provided insights into the operation and its aftermath during an interview with CBS News correspondent Cristian Benavides. Vigil described the strike as a significant blow to the CJNG, which has long been one of Mexico's most powerful and violent criminal organizations. 'This is a major development in the fight against cartels,' Vigil said, emphasizing the potential power vacuum that could lead to further instability.
The operation took place in the rugged hills outside Guadalajara, the cartel's stronghold in Jalisco state, according to Mexican defense officials. Reports indicate that Mexican special forces, supported by intelligence from the DEA and other international partners, targeted El Mencho's hideout late last week. While exact details of the raid remain classified, sources close to the matter said it involved a nighttime assault with drones and ground troops, resulting in El Mencho's death from gunshot wounds.
El Mencho, whose real name is Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, had evaded capture for over a decade despite a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head. Born in the rural community of Agua Fría in Michoacán state, he rose through the ranks of the Milenio Cartel before founding the CJNG around 2010. Under his leadership, the group expanded into fentanyl production and trafficking, contributing to the opioid crisis in the United States. The cartel is also notorious for its brutal tactics, including public executions and attacks on law enforcement.
Following the announcement of El Mencho's death on Monday, unrest erupted in several cities across Jalisco, Michoacán, and Colima states. Gun battles between CJNG factions and rival Sinaloa Cartel members were reported in the port city of Manzanillo, where at least five people were killed in drive-by shootings. Local media outlets documented road blockades and arson attacks on gas stations, tactics often used by cartels to hinder military movements.
'The killing of El Mencho has created chaos within the cartel,' Vigil explained in the CBS interview. 'Loyalists are fighting for control, and rivals see an opportunity to move in.' He noted that such leadership vacuums have historically led to spikes in violence, referencing the 2010 death of Sinaloa Cartel leader Ignacio 'Nacho' Coronel, which triggered similar unrest in Guadalajara.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador addressed the situation during a morning press conference in Mexico City on Tuesday. 'Our security forces acted decisively to protect the Mexican people,' López Obrador said, crediting the operation to the National Guard and army units. He urged calm among residents and promised increased troop deployments to western states, where the CJNG has deep roots in avocado and lime production areas used for money laundering.
However, not all reactions have been celebratory. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, expressed concerns over the operation's conduct. 'While targeting high-level criminals is necessary, we must ensure operations respect human rights and avoid civilian casualties,' said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International, in a statement released Wednesday. Reports from local NGOs indicated that two bystanders were injured during the raid, though officials denied any civilian deaths.
The CJNG's influence extends beyond Mexico's borders. U.S. authorities have linked the group to numerous fentanyl labs dismantled in California and Texas over the past year. In 2023 alone, the DEA seized over 27,000 pounds of fentanyl, much of it traced to CJNG networks. El Mencho's daughter, Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gómez, was arrested in the U.S. in 2023 on money laundering charges, highlighting the family's role in the organization's operations.
Vigil, who served in the DEA from 1980 to 2007, drew parallels to previous cartel takedowns. 'When we got Pablo Escobar in Colombia, it didn't end the drug trade; it just shifted the power,' he told Benavides. Vigil warned that El Mencho's brother-in-law, Abigael González Valencia, known as 'El Cuini,' who is currently imprisoned in the U.S., might influence succession from behind bars.
In Guadalajara, the state's capital and a major economic hub, businesses shuttered early as fears of retaliation grew. A shop owner in the Zapopan neighborhood, near the operation site, described hearing explosions around 2 a.m. on Friday. 'We thought it was fireworks at first, but then the helicopters came,' said Maria López, 45, who runs a small grocery. Her account aligns with unconfirmed reports of aerial support in the raid.
Mexican authorities have ramped up security measures, deploying over 5,000 additional troops to the region. The navy has increased patrols along the Pacific coast to prevent arms smuggling that could fuel further violence. Colima Governor Indira Vizcaíno, whose state borders Jalisco, declared a state of emergency in coastal areas, citing intelligence about incoming cartel reinforcements.
Experts like Vigil predict that the power struggle could last months, potentially drawing in other groups like the Gulf Cartel or Knights Templar remnants. 'This isn't the end of the CJNG; it's a reorganization,' Vigil said. The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for western Mexico on Wednesday, urging Americans to avoid non-essential travel due to the heightened risks.
As the dust settles, questions remain about the long-term impact. Will El Mencho's death weaken the cartel's fentanyl pipeline, or will it embolden more fragmented, violent splinter groups? Mexican and U.S. officials are coordinating closely, with DEA Director Anne Milgram praising the joint effort in a statement: 'This operation demonstrates the strength of our partnership in combating transnational crime.'
The violence has already claimed at least 20 lives since the raid, according to preliminary tallies from the Mexican government. Families in affected communities are bracing for more turmoil, while analysts watch to see if this marks a turning point in Mexico's endless war on drugs. For now, the streets of western Mexico serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of cartel power plays.