The killing of Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel, also known as “El Mencho”, who had long been on the run from the authorities, led to a wave of violence across the country, plunging some parts into a state of chaos.
As the leader of one of Mexico’s most rapidly expanding criminal networks, the 59-year-old was notorious for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States, while orchestrating brazen attacks against government officials.
That defiance reached a breaking point on Sunday during a high-stakes military operation in the town of Tapalpa.
El Mencho was killed in a shootout in his home state of Jalisco as the Mexican military moved in to apprehend him. The retaliation was instantaneous. As news of the operation spread, a coordinated wave of violence exploded through the country, reaching at least 20 of Mexico’s 32 states.
Across the republic, suspected members of organised groups torched buses and businesses, and erected fiery roadblocks. For those caught in the crossfire, the speed of the chaos was a reminder of the cartels’ reach.
“The fear that remains in society is overwhelming,” a resident of Zitacuaro, Michoacan, one of the states hit by the unrest, told Al Jazeera, requesting anonymity.
“That’s when you realise the immense power these organisations have, because they can collapse a city in a matter of minutes.”
“They have co-opted the leaders who manage transport, and at any moment they can block the entrances and exits of a city … they can completely paralyse a city’s movement,” the Michoacan resident added. “All basic services are disrupted: going to hospitals, grocery shopping, ordering food. It becomes total chaos.”
The US Embassy in Mexico issued a security alert to its citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon, urging them to remain indoors.
According to some analysts, these actions were not merely reactive chaos; they were a form of strategic communication.
“[These] are the way a criminal order responds when it feels challenged,” security analyst Edgar Guerra shared on X. “To understand them, you have to look at the meaning behind them, not just the fires or the territory.”
Absolute coordination’
The operation against El Mencho was carried out by Mexican special forces with intelligence support from the US.
“There is absolute coordination with the governments of all states; we must remain informed and calm,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said on social media.
“My recognition to the Mexican Army, National Guard, Armed Forces, and Security Cabinet. We work every day for peace, security, justice, and the wellbeing of Mexico,” she added.
In the US, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had a $15m reward for El Mencho’s capture, making him one of the most sought-after targets among druglords.
Authorities in Jalisco, Michoacan and Guanajuato said at least 14 other people were killed in the violence on Sunday, among them seven members of the National Guard.