The death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), not only marked the end of Mexico’s most powerful drug lord but also unleashed an unprecedented wave of violence that has put national security on edge.
In the early hours of February 22, residents of Tapalpa, a magical and tourist town known for its cobblestone streets and agave landscapes, woke up to the thunder of military helicopters and explosions.
What initially seemed like a local clash turned out to be a surgical operation by Mexican special forces, supported by U.S. intelligence and surveillance drones.
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The operation ended with the capture of a wounded “Mencho”, who was attempting to flee alongside two bodyguards after a confrontation that left eight gunmen and three soldiers dead.
The CJNG leader died shortly afterward while being transported to a hospital.
ALSO READ: Tapalpa was marked by the fire where “El Mencho” fell
A tour through the capo’s hideout
Days after the confrontation, journalist Ioan Grillo managed to gain access for The New Yorker to the compound where the criminal leader had been hiding.
Despite initial attempts by security guards to conceal the location, it was confirmed that Oseguera Cervantes had taken refuge in an exclusive country club and adjacent cabins.
Inside the cabins, the trail of the escape was evident:
Medical supplies: A stocked first-aid kit with medications for kidney problems, confirming rumors about his deteriorating health.
Administrative controls: Payroll lists and handwritten records detailing the cartel’s operations.
Contrast of lifestyles: Leftover food, nut bars, and deodorants mixed with altars to the Virgin of Guadalupe and Jesus, alongside hunting trophies such as zebra and deer heads.
Arsenal: Gun holsters, laser sights, and dozens of .50-caliber shell casings scattered across the ground.
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“Violent lobbying” and nationwide reprisals
The CJNG’s response to the death of its leader was immediate and devastating. In what experts describe as “violent lobbying,” the criminal group launched more than 250 attacks in 20 states across the country, setting vehicles and businesses on fire to demonstrate its firepower and the high cost of dismantling its structure.
These attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 25 members of the National Guard and triggered international travel alerts, just months before Mexico co-hosts the FIFA World Cup.
The human cost: 16,000 missing
Beyond military logistics, “El Mencho’s” legacy in Jalisco is measured in clandestine graves. It is estimated that during his 15 years of leadership, the remains of more than 2,000 bodies have been recovered in the region.
Officially, the state records 16,000 disappearances, although search collectives such as that led by Héctor Flores suggest the real figure could be closer to 26,000 victims.
ALSO READ: “El Mencho’s” payroll: authorities and hundreds of employees on his list
Uncertainty over the succession
El Mencho was laid to rest on March 2 in a private funeral in Guadalajara, in a gold-plated coffin surrounded by flower wreaths, one shaped like a rooster, alluding to his fondness for cockfighting.
Although the government of Claudia Sheinbaum celebrates the capture as a strategic victory that eases pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, peace seems distant.
Rumors now point to his stepson, Juan Carlos Valencia González, alias “03,” as a possible successor, while victims’ families fear that this new generation will perpetuate the savagery that defined the reign of Oseguera Cervantes.