In a strategic blow that redefines the security landscape in Mexico, federal forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), on Sunday, February 22. High-level sources confirmed that the kingpin fell during a high-precision operation led by the Mexican Army in the municipality of Talpa de Allende, Jalisco, an area considered his main security stronghold. Security Analysis
The confirmation of his death triggered an immediate and coordinated response from criminal cells. Roadblocks, vehicle fires, and clashes have been reported in at least six states: Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato, and Aguascalientes. This criminal offensive seeks to obstruct the deployment of military reinforcements and marks the beginning of a period of uncertainty regarding the succession at the top of the organization.
Nemesio Oseguera was born on July 17, 1966, in Naranjo de Chila, Michoacán. His story is one of a rise forged through hardship and ambition:
Early Years: He dropped out of school in sixth grade to pick avocados before migrating to the United States as an undocumented immigrant.
First Arrests: In 1992, he and his brother Abraham were convicted in the U.S. for selling heroin to undercover agents; after serving his sentence, he was deported to Mexico.
Institutional Infiltration: Upon his return, he worked, incredibly, as a police officer in Tomatlán, Jalisco, an experience that allowed him to learn the operational mechanisms of the authorities from the inside.
The rise of “El Mencho” was linked to key figures in drug trafficking. He initially joined the Milenio Cartel, the armed wing that protected Ignacio “Nacho” Coronel, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s right-hand man.
After Coronel’s death and the capture of Óscar Orlando Nava Valencia (“El Lobo”), the criminal organization fractured into two factions: Los Torcidos and La Resistencia. Oseguera Cervantes took control of Los Torcidos, transforming the group into what is now known as the CJNG. To consolidate his power, he forged a strategic and familial alliance by marrying one of the sisters of the González Valencia family, leaders of Los Cuinis, who became the financial arm of his empire.
After the final capture of “El Chapo” Guzmán, “El Mencho” became the top priority target for the Mexican and U.S. governments. Under his leadership, the CJNG expanded its operations to Mexico City and more than a dozen states, characterized by extreme violence and a firepower that directly challenged the Mexican state.
Today, with his death in the mountains of Jalisco, one of the most violent chapters in the country’s contemporary history comes to a close, while authorities remain on high alert for possible internal power struggles for control of the organization.
