A wave of violence has swept across Mexico following the killing of the country’s most wanted drug lord, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as El Mencho, during a military operation backed by US intelligence.
El Mencho, the 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), died after being seriously injured in clashes between his supporters and Mexican troops on Sunday in the town of Tapalpa in Jalisco state.
Mexico’s defence ministry said four CJNG members were killed in the operation and three soldiers were wounded. US intelligence reportedly assisted Mexican forces in locating the cartel leader, who had a $15m reward offered by the U.S. State Department for information leading to his capture.
In apparent retaliation, suspected CJNG gunmen launched coordinated attacks across at least a dozen states, blocking highways with burning vehicles and spreading chaos through major cities.
Eyewitness footage showed plumes of smoke rising over Guadalajara, one of the host cities for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. In the coastal resort of Puerto Vallarta, tourists described scenes resembling a “war zone”.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro declared a code red, suspending public transport and cancelling mass events and in-person classes.
According to Mexico’s Security Cabinet, around 250 roadblocks were set up nationwide at the height of the unrest, including 65 in Jalisco. By late Sunday, four blockades remained active in the state.
Authorities said 25 people were arrested — 11 for alleged involvement in violent acts and 14 for suspected looting and pillaging. About 20 bank branches were attacked and multiple shops set ablaze.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said there was “absolute coordination” between federal and state authorities in responding to the violence and urged citizens to remain calm, adding that most parts of the country were operating normally.
Several international airlines, including Air Canada, United Airlines and American Airlines, cancelled flights to Jalisco amid the unrest.
The United States issued a shelter-in-place warning for citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas and parts of Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León. The United Kingdom also warned travellers of “serious security incidents” in Jalisco and urged extreme caution.
US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described El Mencho as a top target for both Mexican and US authorities, citing his role as a major trafficker of fentanyl into the United States. She said US intelligence support contributed to the operation.
Security analysts have described the killing as one of the most significant blows against organised crime in recent history, but officials now face the challenge of containing the cartel’s violent backlash.
