The Mexican state of Jalisco went on high security alert this Sunday (22) after a series of coordinated attacks attributed to drug trafficking groups, which set fire to vehicles, gas stations and convenience stores in Guadalajara and other cities.
The escalation of violence occurred shortly after federal forces announced, this Sunday, the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”, leader and founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), considered the most wanted criminals in the world.
Videos circulated on social media showed a rush and panic at Jalisco airport. In a statement, the administrator Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico reported that there were no incidents in internal areas and that no flights were canceled, asking passengers to remain calm and to follow the guidance of the teams on site.
The operation that resulted in the death of the drug trafficker took place in the municipality of Talpa de Allende, a region under the strong influence of the cartel. After confirming the death, authorities registered the mobilization of security forces in at least six states — Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas and Aguascalientes — with roadblocks and simultaneous tactical actions, according to the Mexican press.
The governor of Jalisco, Pablo Lemus Navarro, reported that the federal operation in Tapalpa provoked clashes and criminal reactions in different parts of the state. “As a result, individuals set vehicles on fire and blocked roads to make it difficult for the authorities to act. I ordered the immediate installation of the security committee with the three levels of government and the activation of Code Red to protect the population”, he stated.
The state government also announced the suspension of public transport in the Metropolitan Region of Guadalajara and the cancellation of Vía Recreativa, a traditional Sunday event in the capital. In a new statement, the governor reiterated that the state remains on high alert and recommended that the population avoid leaving their homes while clashes are reported in different locations.
Known as “El Mencho,” Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes had a $15 million reward offered by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for information leading to his capture or conviction. His career in organized crime was marked by rapid rise until he became one of the most powerful leaders in drug trafficking.
The presidents of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, and the United States, Donald Trump, signed cooperation agreements to control trafficking between the two countries.
Criminal wanted by the US created one of the most violent drug cartels
Born on July 17, 1966, in the community of Naranjo de Chila, in Aguililla, in the state of Michoacán, he migrated to the United States at a young age, where he spent time in prison for drug trafficking. Back in Mexico, he joined the Millennium Cartel and, after internal disputes, founded the CJNG alongside Erick Valencia Salazar, known as “El 85”.
Created in 2009, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel has become one of the most violent criminal organizations in Mexico, with a strong presence in the trafficking of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine and, more recently, fentanyl for the American market. Under the command of Oseguera Cervantes, the group was blamed for the murders of rivals and attacks on security forces, as well as actions against Mexican authorities.
Since 2017, “El Mencho” has been the target of several accusations in the United States. The most recent, filed in April 2022, accuses him of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl for illegal importation, in addition to using firearms in crimes linked to drug trafficking and running a continuous criminal organization.
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