Wave of Violence Sweeps Mexico After Military Operation That Killed Powerful Drug Baron Nemesio Oseguera, One of the Country’s Most Wanted, for Whom the United States Offered a $15 Million Reward
“We must stay informed and calm,” President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on X after armed men blocked several roads and set fire to businesses in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Puebla, and Sinaloa.
- Air travel disruptions: Multiple North‑American airlines have canceled dozens of flights to several Mexican cities.
- U.S. travel advisory: The United States has urged its citizens in various parts of Mexico—including tourist destinations such as Cancún, Guadalajara, and Oaxaca—to “take shelter until further notice.”
“Because of ongoing security operations, roadblocks, and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the mentioned locations must take shelter until further notice,” the U.S. Embassy in Mexico said on its website.
Background
The leader of the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera, also known as El Mencho, was considered the last of the major drug lords after the arrests of Sinaloa cartel founders Joaquín Guzmán “El Chapo” and Ismael “Mayo” Zambada, both incarcerated in the United States.
According to a military statement, El Mencho was wounded during an operation in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco (west), and died while being transferred by air to Mexico City. The statement added that “additional information” obtained from U.S. authorities helped carry out the operation against the drug trafficker.
Immediate Aftermath
- Armed men blocked several highways in Jalisco with burned cars and trucks.
- The blockades spread to neighboring Michoacán, where Oseguera’s group also operates.
Casualties & seizures:
- 7 criminals killed
- 3 soldiers wounded
- 2 CJNG members arrested
- Various weapons seized, including rocket launchers capable of shooting down aircraft and destroying armored vehicles (source).
Sports Impact
- The Querétaro vs. Juárez match (7th round of the Mexican First Division) was suspended due to the violence following the drug lord’s death.
- The women’s league also halted the Clásico between Guadalajara and América, scheduled at the Akron Stadium in Zapopan (Guadalajara).
- The Liga Expansión (second division) postponed the match between Tapatío and Tlaxcala, which was to be played at the Gregorio “Tepa” Gómez Stadium, also in Jalisco.
CJNG Designation & Cartel Violence Statistics
- The CJNG, founded by Oseguera in 2009, was labeled a terrorist organization by the United States in 2025, accused of trafficking cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.
- Since 2006, cartel‑related violence in Mexico has caused over 450,000 deaths and more than 100,000 disappearances, according to official figures.
This article has been translated from French to English and formatted in Markdown for clear, SEO‑friendly presentation.
