Mexico cartel chief killed, triggering nationwide violence

School was cancelled in several Mexican states and authorities urged residents to remain indoors after a wave of violence erupted following the army’s killing of cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho.” Oseguera Cervantes headed the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most powerful and fastest-growing criminal groups, accused of trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States, according toAfricanews. He was killed in a shoot-out with troops in Tapalpa, Jalisco, while being transported to Mexico City after being wounded, according to Mexico’s Defence Department. Cartel members retaliated swiftly, setting vehicles ablaze and blocking highways across at least 20 states.Authorities said more than 250 roadblocks were later cleared.

In Jalisco, Michoacán and Guanajuato, at least 14 people were reported killed, including seven National Guard troops. Guadalajara, Jalisco’s capital and Mexico’s second-largest city, was largely paralysed. Flights were suspended and the international airport operated with limited staff as anxious travellers sought safe passage home.

Videos circulating online showed smoke rising near tourist areas, including Puerto Vallarta. President Claudia Sheinbaum appealed for calm, while the White House confirmed the United States provided intelligence support for the operation. United States (US) President, Donald Trump, who has pressed Mexico to intensify efforts against fentanyl trafficking, welcomed the outcome.

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The US State Department had offered a US$15 million reward for information leading to Oseguera Cervantes’ capture. Analysts say the killing marks a pivotal moment in Sheinbaum’s crackdown on organised crime and may ease US pressure for tougher action. However, security experts warn it could also trigger further instability, as rival groups attempt to exploit any power vacuum within the CJNG. The cartel, founded around 2009 and designated a foreign terrorist organisation by Washington in 2025, is known for brazen attacks on security forces, including the use of drones and explosives.

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