Mexico fears more violence after army kills 'El Mencho,' leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel

GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- School was canceled successful respective Mexican states and section and overseas governments alike warned their citizens to enactment inside, arsenic wide unit erupted pursuing the army's sidesplitting of the almighty person of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known arsenic "El Mencho" was the brag of 1 of the fastest-growing transgression networks successful Mexico, notorious for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks against authorities officials who challenged it.

He was killed during a shoot-out successful his location authorities of Jalisco arsenic the Mexican subject attempted to seizure him. Cartel members responded with unit crossed the country, blocking roads and mounting occurrence to vehicles.

President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm and authorities announced precocious Sunday they had cleared astir of the much than 250 cartel roadblocks crossed 20 states. The White House confirmed that the U.S. provided quality enactment to the cognition to seizure the cartel person and applauded Mexico's service for taking down a antheral who was 1 of the astir wanted criminals successful some countries.

Mexico hoped the decease of the world's biggest fentanyl traffickers would easiness Trump medication unit to bash much against the cartels, but galore remained hunkered down and connected borderline arsenic they waited to spot the almighty cartel's reaction.

Many fearfulness much violence

Guadalajara, the superior of Jalisco authorities and Mexico's second-largest city, was astir wholly unopen down connected Sunday arsenic fearful residents stayed home.

Passengers arriving to the city's planetary airdrome Sunday nighttime were told it was operating with constricted unit due to the fact that of the burst of violence.

Jacinta Murcia, a 64-year-old nutrition products vendor, was among those nervously walking precocious Sunday nighttime done the airport, wherever earlier successful the time travelers sprinted and ducked down chairs fearing violence. Most flights into the metropolis were suspended connected Sunday.

Murcia anxiously scrolled done quality stories connected societal media showing the look of "El Mencho" and sent messages to her children, who were tracking her determination arsenic she tried to question crossed the metropolis to her location aft dark.

"My program contiguous leaving the airdrome is to spot if determination are immoderate taxis, but I'm frightened of everything. That determination are blockades, that there's a curfew, that thing could happen," she said. "I'm each alone."

Authorities successful Jalisco, Michoacan and Guanajuato reported astatine slightest 14 different radical killed Sunday, including 7 National Guard troops.

Videos circulating connected societal media showed tourists successful Puerto Vallarta walking connected the formation with fume rising successful the distance.

In different portion of the airdrome a radical of aged Mexicans gathered, discussing however to get home.

"We amended each spell together," 1 said. "Go with God."

A stroke against a cartel could beryllium a diplomatic coup

David Mora, Mexico expert for International Crisis Group, said the seizure and outburst of unit marks a constituent of inflection successful Sheinbaum's propulsion to ace down connected cartels and relieve U.S. pressures.

U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded Mexico bash much to combat the smuggling of the often-deadly cause fentanyl, threatening to enforce much tariffs oregon instrumentality unilateral subject enactment if the state does not amusement results.

There were aboriginal signs that Mexico's efforts were good received by the United States.

U.S. Amb. Ron Johnson recognized the occurrence of the Mexican equipped forces and their sacrifice successful a connection precocious Sunday. He added that "under the enactment of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bilateral practice has reached unprecedented levels."

But it whitethorn besides pave the mode for much unit arsenic rival transgression groups instrumentality vantage of the stroke dealt to the CJNG, Mora said.

"This mightiness beryllium a infinitesimal successful which those different groups spot that the cartel is weakened and privation to prehend the accidental for them to grow power and to summation power implicit Cartel Jalisco successful those states," helium said.

"Ever since President Sheinbaum has been successful power, the service has been mode much confrontational, combative against transgression groups successful Mexico," Mora said. "This is signaling to the U.S. that if we support cooperating, sharing intelligence, Mexico tin bash it, we don't request U.S. troops connected Mexican soil."

'El Mencho' was a large target

Oseguera Cervantes, who was wounded successful the cognition to seizure him Sunday successful Tapalpa, Jalisco, astir a two-hour thrust southwest of Guadalajara, died portion being flown to Mexico City, the Defense Department said successful a statement.

During the operation, troops came nether occurrence and killed 4 radical astatine the location. Three much people, including Oseguera Cervantes, were wounded and aboriginal died, the connection said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said via X that the U.S. authorities provided quality enactment for the operation. "'El Mencho' was a apical people for the Mexican and United States authorities arsenic 1 of the apical traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland," she wrote. She commended Mexico's subject for its work.

The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 cardinal for accusation starring to the apprehension of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is 1 of the astir almighty and fastest increasing transgression organizations successful Mexico and began operating astir 2009.

In February 2025, the Trump medication designated the cartel arsenic a overseas violent organization.

Sheinbaum has criticized the "kingpin" strategy of erstwhile administrations that took retired cartel leaders, lone to trigger explosions of unit arsenic cartels fractured. While she has remained fashionable successful Mexico, information is simply a persistent interest and since U.S. President Donald Trump took bureau a twelvemonth ago, she has been nether tremendous unit to amusement results against cause trafficking.

The Jalisco cartel has been 1 of the astir assertive cartels successful its attacks connected the subject - including connected helicopters - and is simply a pioneer successful launching explosives from drones and installing mines. In 2020, it carried retired a spectacular assassination effort with grenades and high-powered rifles successful the bosom of Mexico City against the past caput of the capital's constabulary unit and present national information secretary.

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Sánchez reported from Mexico City. Associated Press writer María Verza contributed to this report.