Jalisco Cartel Leader El Mencho Buried in Golden Casket Amid Military Presence
The leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known by his alias El Mencho, has been buried in a shiny golden casket in the Mexican state that gave its name to one of the country's most powerful criminal organisations. The burial took place on Monday in Zapopan, a suburb of Guadalajara, which is Mexico's second-largest city, as confirmed by a federal official.
Funeral Procession and Security Measures
Dozens of individuals accompanied the funeral procession, with many carrying black umbrellas on a sunny day while a band played Mexican regional music, known as banda. The event occurred under a large military presence, reflecting heightened security concerns. The Attorney General's Office had previously declined to confirm the burial location, citing security reasons.
Security had been intensified around a funeral home since Sunday, where large flower wreaths arrived without names. Some wreaths featured the image of a rooster in flowers, a nod to Oseguera Cervantes, who was sometimes referred to as the Lord of the Roosters.
Death and Aftermath of El Mencho
The Mexican army killed Oseguera Cervantes just over a week ago during an attempt to capture him. According to a death certificate obtained by The Associated Press, he died from multiple bullet wounds to his chest, abdomen, and legs. Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla described the operation, stating that the cartel leader and two bodyguards were badly wounded in a gunfight with soldiers outside a home in Tapalpa, Jalisco, and died en route to a hospital.
His body was transported to Mexico City for an autopsy before being returned to his family on Saturday. The death certificate noted that burial is standard practice in cases of violent deaths to allow for additional forensic evidence collection if needed in the future.
Violence and Retaliation Following the Killing
The killing of El Mencho triggered significant retaliation by the cartel across approximately 20 states, resulting in more than 70 deaths between the military operation and the subsequent violence. Authorities have expressed ongoing security concerns, with operations continuing against other high-ranking members of the cartel.
Cultural Context of Drug Lord Burials in Mexico
It is customary for an air of mystery to surround the burials of drug lords in Mexico, a tactic their supporters often use to elevate them to legendary status. Within hours of El Mencho's death, ballads known as narcocorridos were already being written about his killing.
This phenomenon is not unique. In Culiacan, Sinaloa, there is a cemetery famous for luxury crypts and mausoleums for former kingpins like Ignacio Coronel and Arturo Beltrán Leyva. Other notable cases include:
- Nazario Moreno, leader of the Knights Templar cartel, who was reportedly killed in 2010 and then again in 2014.
- Heriberto Lazcano, leader of the Zetas, whose body was stolen in 2012.
- Amado Carrillo Fuentes, known as the Lord of the Skies, who died during botched plastic surgery.
The burial of El Mencho in a golden casket underscores the opulent and often violent legacy of Mexico's drug cartels, with authorities remaining vigilant amid ongoing security threats.
