Mexico City, Mexico. A Mexican military raid on Sunday killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in an operation described as the biggest security-related action in Mexico in at least a decade. The raid marked President Claudia Sheinbaum’s biggest bet so far in her offensive against organized crime groups.
Surprise operation and U.S. support
The Mexican Army launched a surprise operation against Oseguera, long considered one of the country’s most elusive cartel leaders. U.S. authorities had offered a $15 million bounty for information leading to his capture, and the United States provided intelligence support for the raid.
The U.S. has been pressuring Sheinbaum to intensify action against cartels, with U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly threatening unilateral military action in Mexico.
Political stakes for Sheinbaum
The operation was seen as a signal to Washington that Mexico can conduct sophisticated operations against powerful criminal groups without U.S. troops on the ground. In Mexico, the raid also risked triggering a backlash against the popular president if violence escalates afterward.
“It was a huge bet to go against the most powerful criminal group in the country,” said David Mora of the International Crisis Group in Mexico. “The stakes are really high.”
Mexico’s presidency did not respond to a request for comment.
Retaliatory attacks across multiple states
Mexican authorities said Oseguera’s loyalists launched retaliatory attacks on Sunday, torching cars and businesses and setting up more than 250 roadblocks in 20 of Mexico’s 32 states. The attacks stretched from the U.S. border to Mexico’s frontier with Guatemala, according to authorities.
How do you think the killing of El Mencho will affect security and violence levels in Mexico in the coming weeks?
