Mexico Deploys 9,500 Troops After Mexican drug lord El Mencho Killed in Military Operation

TLDR

• Mexican drug lord “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed Sunday after a military raid in Jalisco state.
• He was tracked down after security forces followed a romantic partner to his hideout in Tapalpa.
• At least 73 people died in the operation and its violent aftermath across 20 states.
• Mexico deployed around 9,500 troops nationwide to contain retaliatory cartel attacks.
• President Sheinbaum declared the country “at peace” by Monday, with all 250+ roadblocks cleared.

Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the head of Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed on Sunday after a Mexican military operation in the western state of Jalisco.

El Mencho was one of the most wanted criminals in both Mexico and the United States. The US State Department had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.

Mexico’s Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said forces tracked El Mencho down after following a romantic partner to his hideout in the town of Tapalpa. A confidante of one of the crime boss’s lovers passed information to officials, allowing them to plan the raid quickly.

During the operation, cartel gunmen opened fire on security forces. The fighting moved to a cabin complex in a wooded area, where El Mencho was wounded alongside two bodyguards.

All three were airlifted by helicopter toward Mexico City. General Trevilla confirmed they died en route.

Eight cartel members were killed in the raid. Grenades, ammunition, armoured vehicles, and several rocket launchers were seized at the scene.

The CJNG is one of Mexico’s most feared criminal organisations. It is known for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States, and was designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the Trump administration in February 2025.

Following news of El Mencho’s death, cartel members launched retaliatory attacks across at least 20 states. They blocked roads with spikes and nails, commandeered buses and vehicles, and set them on fire in the middle of streets.

At least 25 members of Mexico’s National Guard were killed in six separate cartel attacks in Jalisco state alone. A prison guard, a state prosecutor’s office agent, and 30 cartel operatives also died in the unrest.

Mexico’s Military Response

The government deployed around 9,500 troops in total, including an additional 2,500 soldiers sent to western Mexico on Monday. Authorities said at least 70 people had been arrested across seven states.

Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch confirmed authorities were “closely monitoring for any kind of reaction or restructuring within the cartel that could lead to violence.”

Tourists Caught in the Chaos

Videos authenticated by BBC Verify showed tourists watching from hotel pools as military helicopters flew overhead and smoke rose from buildings in Puerto Vallarta. Several airlines suspended flights to the city.

The US State Department urged American nationals in affected areas to shelter in place. Its 24/7 crisis hotline received hundreds of calls.

By Monday, President Claudia Sheinbaum said all 250-plus roadblocks across 20 states had been cleared. She praised the armed forces and said Mexico was “at peace” and “calm.”

The White House confirmed the US provided intelligence support for the operation and praised Mexico’s military for taking down El Mencho.

At least 73 people in total died in the operation and the violence that followed, including security forces, suspected cartel members, and civilians.

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