MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities have killed one of many world’s most needed drug-traffickers, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, often known as “El Mencho,” founder and chief of the infamous Jalisco New Era cartel, which controls drug trafficking, extortion, gasoline theft and different rackets all through Mexico.
The Mexican Protection Ministry confirmed the loss of life, saying Oseguera was wounded throughout a Sunday morning operation within the city of Tapalpa, Jalisco state. Oseguera died whereas being transported through air with different cartel associates to Mexico Metropolis for remedy, the army stated.
Oseguera’s loss of life is probably the most vital take-down of a Mexican drug capo because the seize of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, then head of the Sinaloa cartel, who’s serving a life sentence in a U.S. jail.
Prior to now, the seize or loss of life of a cartel chief has led to violence, as factions compete for management. On Sunday, chaos erupted throughout western Mexico.
A household sheltering in place within the state of Jalisco — who requested to not be recognized due to security issues — stated cartel members had been pulling folks out of automobiles on the street and setting them on fireplace. Automobiles, vehicles and buses going up in flames and emitting plumes of darkish smoke had been seen on roads in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, in line with footage circulating on social media, in addition to within the states of Nayarit and Michoacán.
The governor of Jalisco reported roadblocks and different disturbances all through the western state and suggested folks to remain dwelling. Flights had been suspended on the airport in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco.
Authorities additionally reported blocked roads in different areas of Mexico the place the cartel held sway. Felony teams in Mexico typically use roadblocks to protest enforcement actions.
The reported loss of life of Oseguera is a significant achievement for the federal government of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has been beneath intense stress from the Trump administration to crack down on U.S.-bound drug trafficking. Within the final 12 months, Mexico has dispatched scores of cartel suspects to america to face justice.
U.S. authorities had supplied a $15-million reward for info resulting in the arrest or conviction of Oseguera.
It was not instantly clear what function, if any, U.S. authorities had within the operation to take down Oseguera. Sheinbaum has pledged “cooperation and coordination” with U.S. officers, however has rejected any direct U.S. function on the bottom in anti-cartel operations.
Oseguera is claimed to have begun his profession as a small-time heroin vendor in San Francisco.
One of many world’s most needed criminals, rumors about El Mencho’s loss of life and seize have circulated prior to now and turned out to be false. However in recent times, authorities have seemingly closed in, capturing a number of high-ranking associates and shut members of the family.
Oseguera oversaw a military-like buildup of his cartel, which pioneered using armored automobiles, land mines, drones and different army {hardware}. Amongst different assaults, the Jalisco gang was blamed for the 2015 downing of a Mexican army helicopter, which resulted within the the loss of life of 9 Mexican regulation enforcement officers. The helicopter — reportedly hit with U.S.-made .50-caliber machine-gun rounds — was on a mission to seize the elusive cartel boss.
His son, Rubén Oseguera González, often known as “El Menchito,” was captured and extradited from Mexico in February 2020. He was convicted in 2024 on an array of drug and weapons expenses associated to his management function within the cartel and is now serving a life sentence.
U.S. Bureau of Prisons information present he’s housed at a maximum-security federal jail in Florence, Colo., know because the “Alcatraz of The Rockies,” that additionally homes the “El Chapo” and different high-profile criminals.
His daughter, Jessica Johanna Oseguera González, was arrested whereas visiting certainly one of her brother’s court docket proceedings and ultimately pleaded responsible to violations of the sop-called Kingpin Act associated to cash laundering. She reportedly spent simply over two years in jail earlier than her launch in 2022.
Instances employees writers McDonnell, Linthicum and Hamilton reported from Mexico Metropolis, New York and San Francisco, respectively. Particular correspondent Cecilia Sánchez Vidal in Mexico Metropolis contributed to this report.
