Mexico fears more violence after army kills cartel leader ‘El Mencho’ : NPR

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Schools were canceled in several Mexican states and local and foreign governments alike warned their citizens to stay inside, as widespread violence erupted after the military killed the powerful leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel.

Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho”, was the boss of one of the fastest-growing criminal networks in Mexico, notorious for smuggling fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States and openly attacking government officials who challenged it.

He was killed during a shootout in his home state of Jalisco when Mexican forces attempted to capture him. Cartel members responded with violence across the country, blocking roads and setting vehicles on fire.

President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm and authorities announced late Sunday that they had removed most of the more than 250 cartel roadblocks in 20 states. The White House confirmed the US provided intelligence support to the operation to capture the cartel leader and praised Mexico’s military for killing a man who was one of the most wanted criminals in both countries.

Mexico had hoped the deaths of the world’s biggest fentanyl smugglers would ease pressure on the Trump administration to take more action against the cartels, but many remained fearful and on the sidelines as they waited to see the powerful cartels’ response.

Many people fear more violence

Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state and Mexico’s second-largest city, went into almost complete lockdown on Sunday as terrified residents remained at home.

Passengers arriving at the city’s international airport on Sunday night were told it was operating with limited staff due to the outbreak of violence.

Jacinta Murcia, a 64-year-old nutritional products salesperson, was among those walking nervously through the airport late Sunday, where earlier in the day passengers ran quickly and hid behind chairs in fear of violence. Most flights in the city were suspended on Sunday.

Marcia anxiously scrolled through news stories showing the face of “El Mencho” on social media and sent messages to her children, who were tracking her location as she tried to get home across town after dark.

“I plan to leave the airport today to see if there are any taxis, but I am scared of everything. There is a blockade, there is a curfew, something could happen,” he said. “I’m all alone.”

Authorities in Jalisco, Michoacán and Guanajuato reported at least 14 other people killed on Sunday, including seven National Guard soldiers.

Videos circulating on social media showed tourists in Puerto Vallarta walking on the beach as smoke billowed in the distance.

In another part of the airport a group of elderly Mexicans gathered and were discussing how to get home.

“We’d better all go together,” said one. “go with God.”

A blow against a cartel could be a diplomatic coup

David Mora, Mexico analyst for the International Crisis Group, said the capture and flare-up of violence marks an inflection point in Sheinbaum’s effort to crack down on the cartel and fend off U.S. pressures.

US President Donald Trump has demanded Mexico do more to fight the trafficking of the often deadly drug fentanyl, and has threatened to impose more tariffs or take unilateral military action if the country does not show results.

There were early indications that Mexico’s efforts were well received by the United States.

American Ambassador. Ron Johnson recognized the success and sacrifice of the Mexican armed forces in a statement late Sunday. He said that “under the leadership of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bipartisan cooperation has reached unprecedented levels.”

But it could also pave the way for more violence as rival criminal groups take advantage of the blow to the CJNG, Mora said.

“This could be a moment when other groups see that the cartel is weakened and they want to take advantage of the opportunity to expand control and gain control over the cartel in Jalisco in those states,” he said.

Mora said, “Since President Sheinbaum came to power, the military has been much more confrontational and combative against criminal groups in Mexico.” “It signals to the United States that if we keep cooperating, keep sharing intelligence, Mexico can do the same, we don’t need U.S. troops on Mexican soil.”

‘El Mencho’ was a prime target

Oseguera Cervantes, who was wounded in an operation to capture him Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, about two hours’ drive southwest of Guadalajara, died on the way to Mexico City, the Defense Department said in a statement.

During the operation, soldiers were fired upon and four people were killed at that location. Three other people, including Oseguera Cervantes, were injured and later died, the statement said.

White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said through an interview that the US government provided intelligence support for the operation. They wrote, “As one of the top traffickers of fentanyl in our homeland, ‘El Mencho’ was a top target for the Mexican and United States governments.” He praised the Mexican military for its work.

The US State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is one of the most powerful and fastest growing criminal organizations in Mexico and began operating around 2009.

In February 2025, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.

Sheinbaum has criticized the “kingpin” strategy of previous administrations, in which cartel leaders were taken out only to have violence erupt as the cartels broke up. Although she remains popular in Mexico, security is a constant concern and she has been under immense pressure to show results against drug trafficking since US President Donald Trump took office a year ago.

The Jalisco cartel has been one of the most aggressive cartels in its attacks on the military – including using helicopters – and is a leader in launching explosives from drones and planting mines. In 2020, it carried out a spectacular assassination attempt with grenades and high-powered rifles in the center of Mexico City against the then head of the capital’s police force and now federal security secretary.