Mexico is on high alert after cartel gunmen launched a wave of retaliatory attacks following the death of notorious drug lord Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho', in a federal raid. The operation in the western state of Jalisco on Sunday resulted in a firefight that killed the 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and six of his accomplices, according to officials.
Retaliatory attacks since the raid have killed 25 National Guard members and one security guard, Mexico's security minister Omar García Harfuch said. He added that 30 cartel operatives and one bystander also died. The defence minister, Ricardo Trevilla, revealed that information leading to the operation came from a romantic partner of El Mencho.
In western Mexico, schools closed and travellers were stranded as cartel members blocked roads by burning cars and buses. Authorities reported over 250 roadblocks across 20 states, all of which have since been cleared. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm, but analysts warn of further violence as rival factions vie for control of the cartel.
David Mora, Mexico analyst for the International Crisis Group, said he expects a spike in violence. 'El Mencho was a very powerful figure who ran a very centralised organisation. There is no clear direct heir or successor,' he said, noting that this could lead to internal power struggles and turf wars with other cartels.
In Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination, authorities advised residents to stay indoors as violence erupted. Videos on social media showed cars and buildings ablaze, with smoke rising near beaches. In Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city and a future World Cup host, streets were nearly empty as residents stayed home. Over 1,000 people spent the night in the city's zoo for safety, according to director Luis Soto Rendón.
The US provided intelligence support for the raid, the White House confirmed. Mora said the operation was a way for Sheinbaum to demonstrate Mexico's ability to handle cartels independently, sending a message to the Trump administration that 'our strategy is working.'
