Violence has erupted in Mexico after troops killed Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, head of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) drug cartel.
As the most wanted drug boss in the country, El Mencho leads one of the fastest-growing criminal networks in North America.
El Mencho was infamous for smuggling cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States and for launching brash assaults on government agents who opposed his activities.
The Mexican military attempted to apprehend the 59-year-old former police officer by staging a shootout in his native state of Jalisco on Sunday, which resulted in his death.
Four cartel members were killed at the scene, while three others, including El Mencho, died while being flown to Mexico City, the nation’s capital.
The White House said the US supported the operation with intelligence. A $15 million reward had been offered by the state department for information that would result in El Mencho’s capture.
El Mencho’s passing caused anarchy in a number of Mexican states as cartel members struggled with law enforcement, blocked roads, and set cars on fire.
Social media videos revealed numerous bonfires and smoke plumes spreading around Puerto Vallarta, a well-liked vacation destination on Mexico’s west coast.
Meanwhile, a local newspaper El Occidental published footage showing scenes of what appeared to be heavy fighting in Tapalpa, which is located in Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountain range.
Airlines were forced to cancel scores of flights due to the disruption.
Due to fears of retaliation by the cartel members, terrified travellers at the airport in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, one of the cities hosting the 2026 World Cup, fled for shelter. In the center of the city, armed men were observed setting cars on fire.
In a another video that was shared on social media, a gang of men with heavy weapons were seen burning a fuel station in Guadalajara.
Several Mexican states have cancelled classes, and both domestic and international authorities have urged people to stay indoors.
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum urged people to remain “calm”, saying “in most parts of the country, activities are proceeding normally”.
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