Mexico strike on powerful cartel boss sparks clashes, US support

A top cartel leader was killed during a raid carried out by Mexican authorities in the western state of Jalisco, fueling violent clashes across the country but winning praise from the US. Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel known as “El Mencho,” was slain in a federal operation against the group on Sunday morning, Mexico’s government said in a statement. Oseguera rose to prominence after helping found the Jalisco Cartel around 2009.

Originally a rival to the Sinaloa Cartel, it is one of the main groups that traffics cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl to the US. Taking out its leader marks a major political success for Mexico amid increasing pressure from President Donald Trump to halt the flow of drugs. Oseguera and six other cartel members were killed during the operation or its aftermath, Mexico’s defence ministry said, adding that three soldiers were wounded.

Mexican authorities used intelligence from the US to carry out the operation, the ministry added. Various weapons were seized, “including rocket launchers capable of shooting down aircraft and destroying armoured vehicles,” the government said. President Claudia Sheinbaum congratulated the officials involved later in the afternoon and said most parts of Mexico were unaffected by the raid, with full coordination among all state governments.

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“We must stay informed and remain calm,” she said in a post on X, while acknowledging that some road blockades remain. She’s expected to address the ramifications of the strike in more detail on Monday at her daily press conference. After the raid, criminal groups burned cars and trucks to block roads in different areas of Jalisco, and there were also clashes between gangs and the authorities, according to local outlets Reforma and Milenio, which first reported Oseguera’s killing.

Neighbours in Guadalajara, one of the venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, shared videos of armed groups shooting car tires to block intersections. Security officials confirmed that 20 branches of state-run Banco del Bienestar were affected by the disturbances. One of the country’s business groups, Coparmex, recommended Jalisco residents stay in their homes.

The state government also canceled public activities through Monday, including school classes, and halted public transit in certain areas. US officials praised the strike as a step forward. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who previously served as ambassador to Mexico, celebrated the kingpin’s killing.

“This is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world,” the diplomat said in a post on X. “The good guys are stronger than the bad guys.” Still, the US embassy in Mexico issued a security alert urging Americans in affected areas to shelter in place until further notice. The blockades spread to other states, including Michoacán and Guanajuato.

Pharmacies and convenience stores were attacked in several cities. Soccer league Liga BBVA MX said it would postpone games that were going to be held Sunday evening in Guadalajara and the state of Querétaro. In the tourist hotspot of Puerto Vallarta, usually frequented by tourists from the US and Canada during the winter, several roads were also blocked.

A video published by Reforma shows smoke rising from burning vehicles in several parts of the city. Flight tracking websites showed airlines turning around en route to the city. Mexican carriers Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB, known as Volaris, and Grupo Viva Aerobus SAB temporarily suspended service to the city, as did Air Canada. The Canadian government updated its travel guidance for Mexico, recommending travelers exercise a high degree of caution.

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