Mexican military kills cartel boss ‘El Mencho’ in US-backed raid
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Police officers secure the area where vehicles were set on fire by organized crime members to block a road in Zapopan, Mexico, on Feb 22.
PHOTO: REUTERS
MEXICO CITY - One of Mexico’s most notorious drug lords, Nemesio Oseguera, or “El Mencho,” was killed in a military raid on Feb 22, sparking widespread retaliatory violence.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has been under mounting pressure from Washington to intensify her offensive against drug cartels blamed for producing and smuggling drugs, particularly the synthetic opioid fentanyl, across the border to the US.
Oseguera, 60, the mastermind of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) died in custody after being injured in a military operation by Mexican special forces in the town of Tapalpa on Mexico’s Pacific coast in Jalisco state, according to Mexico’s defence ministry.
His corpse arrived in Mexico City on the afternoon of Feb 22 in a heavily guarded convoy of National Guard troops.
Reuters had reported on Feb 22 that a new US-military-led task force played a role in the raid led and carried out by Mexican forces.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later posted on social media that the United States provided intelligence support.
Ms Leavitt added that the Trump administration “commends and thanks the Mexican military for their cooperation and successful execution of this operation.”
After reports of El Mencho’s death, cartel henchmen blockaded highways with burning cars and torched businesses in more than a half a dozen states, paralysing parts of the country.
No civilian deaths have been reported.
In Jalisco’s popular beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, frightened tourists on social media described a “war zone” as plumes of dark smoke rose into the sky from around the bay.
Air Canada, United Airlines, Aeromexico and American Airlines suspended flights in the area.
Oseguera, a former police officer, founded and oversaw the rapid rise of the CJNG, named for the western state of Jalisco that is home to one of Mexico’s biggest cities, Guadalajara.
In recent years, CJNG has expanded into one of Mexico’s most powerful cartels, known for violent tactics including forced labor and forced recruitment.
Under El Mencho’s leadership, CJNG also became a highly diversified criminal enterprise, expanding from drug trafficking to fuel theft, extortion, human smuggling, and complex financial frauds.
The cartel pioneered use of drones in attacks against civilians
The Feb 22 raid was one of Mexico’s highest profile blows against drug gangs responsible for smuggling billions of dollars of drugs - including fentanyl - into the US.
In recent years, the leaders of the rival Sinaloa Cartel - Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman
A shootout in the western state of Jalisco left Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera seriously injured and he died during an air transfer to Mexico City.
PHOTO: REUTERS
President Donald Trump’s administration lauded El Mencho’s killing, but domestic violence it triggered highlighted the political balancing act Ms Sheinbaum must strike as her government escalates its cartel offensive.
On Feb 22, Ms Sheinbaum stressed that activities in most areas of the country were proceeding as usual.
Schools in various states across Mexico protectively cancelled classes for Feb 23, according to announcements by state-level education departments.
Security experts were watching whether the raid and death of the cartel boss will fracture CJNG leadership and trigger bloody infighting.
“There will definitely be skirmishes between the various factions, and these spasms of violence could last for years,” said Mr Carlos Olivo, a former US Drug Enforcement Administration assistant special agent in charge and an expert in CJNG.
Mexican Army personnel stand guard at the access roads to the Guadalajara International Airport in Tlaquepaque, Mexico, on Feb 22.
PHOTO: AFP
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, previously ambassador to Mexico, said Oseguera’s killing was a “great development” for the US and Mexico, as well as the rest of Latin America.
In January after the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
Ms Sheinbaum said she would strengthen efforts to cooperate with the US to fight cartels., but vowed to uphold Mexico’s sovereignty and warned against any unilateral military action by the US in Mexico.
Ms Sheinbaum in a social media post on Feb 22 said security officials would provide information on the operation. REUTERS
