The death of Jalisco New Generation Cartel boss El Mencho marks a turning point in the battle against transnational drug trafficking. US intelligence assistance was key to the successful raid, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt’s Sunday statement on X.
Conducted in Tepaltepec, Jalisco, the operation neutralized Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, a prime fentanyl distributor targeting American streets. Leavitt highlighted his status as a top threat, reinforced by President Trump’s terrorist designation for CJNG. Beyond El Mencho, the assault claimed three lives, injured three, and netted two arrests.
Leavitt extended thanks to Mexico’s armed forces for their role in the triumph. Retaliatory violence swiftly followed, with CJNG enforcers blocking highways, setting fires, and clashing in strongholds like Tamaulipas, Michoacan, and Nayarit.
In a bid to quell the chaos, President Claudia Sheinbaum called for composure and inter-governmental harmony. Former Mexico ambassador Christopher Landau, now Deputy Secretary of State, celebrated the outcome as monumental for the hemisphere.
This collaboration exemplifies evolving strategies against cartels, blending intelligence with on-ground action. While a major scalp for law enforcement, El Mencho’s elimination could ignite a scramble for power, prolonging instability. Stakeholders watch closely as efforts intensify to stem the fentanyl crisis.