MEXICO CITY – Mexico has deployed 10 000 troops to control clashes sparked by the killing of the country’s most-wanted drug lord that claimed dozens of lives, officials said on Monday.
Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera (59), leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was wounded on Sunday in a shootout with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa, in Jalisco state, and died while being flown to Mexico City, the army said.
News of his death triggered widespread violence, with cartel members blocking roads in 20 states and setting fire to vehicles and businesses.
During the raid on Oseguera and subsequent clashes, at least 27 members of security forces, 46 suspected criminals and one civilian were killed, authorities reported.
A prison break in Jalisco saw at least 23 people escape when their jail was attacked by gunfire from criminal groups, according to the state security secretary.
Oseguera had a $15 million bounty on his head from the United States.
Residents went into hiding and tourists took shelter in their hotels as cartel members carried out attacks over the weekend.
Many businesses remained closed on Monday, although calm had largely returned.
The government sent an additional 2 500 troops to Jalisco, one of the host cities in this year’s FIFA World Cup, bringing to 10 000 the troop deployment since Sunday.
In Aguillila, the birthplace of El Mencho in Michoacan state, residents reported blockades early Monday. Photos shared on local social media accounts showed a column of black smoke floating above the mountain village.
In Jalisco’s state capital Guadalajara, schools remained closed and most public transportation was suspended.
Large queues formed outside the few small shops that remained open, particularly tortilla shops, as residents sought to stock up on supplies.
“Pharmacies were closed and nearly everything is closed,” Juan Soler, a retiree from Guadalajara, told AFP.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Maria de Jesus Gonzalez said. “Now I’m a little more calm, but a little afraid, still.”
Resort town affected
The weekend violence also affected the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, popular with US tourists.
Travel warnings from Britain, Canada and the United States were issued in the aftermath, with Australia urging citizens to exercise caution. Dozens of US and Canadian flights were cancelled.
Oseguera was considered the last of the drug lords who acted in the brutal mould of the now-imprisoned Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, of the rival Sinaloa cartel.
He was a founding member of CJNG, which was formed in 2009 and has grown into one of Mexico’s most violent crime organisations.
With his son Ruben “El Menchito” Oseguera Gonzalez (35) convicted by a federal jury in Washington in September, experts have warned the absence of a direct succession could lead to a power vacuum.
“That opens the door to violent realignments within the organisation,” David Mora, an expert at the Crisis Group analysis centre, told AFP.
Girlfriend tracked to kingpin’s location
Mexico said the operation to capture Oseguera was helped by complementary information from US authorities.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Washington provided intelligence support.
President Claudia Sheinbaum was adamant that no US forces took part in the capture raid.
Key to locating Oseguera was one of his girlfriends, Mexican Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said.
Mexican intelligence, supported by the US military, learned of a meeting between the woman and the drug lord and used that information to track him to a ranch in Jalisco state, Trevilla told reporters.
Two suspected cartel members were arrested and a variety of weapons seized during the operation, including rocket launchers capable of downing aeroplanes and destroying armoured vehicles, the army said.
Authorities also announced the death of his right-hand man, Hugo H., known as El Tuli.
Washington has classified CJNG as a terrorist organisation and accuses it of sending cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States.
The raid came amid ongoing pressure from President Trump for Mexico to stem the flow of drugs into the United States or face stiff tariffs.
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