Khaberni - Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known by the nickname "El Mencho" and one of the world's most dangerous organized crime leaders, was killed in a military operation conducted by the Mexican forces in the state of Jalisco, west of the country, according to the Mexican Ministry of Defense.
El Mencho, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has been the most influential drug lord in Mexico over the past decade, with the United States offering a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
The Mexican Ministry of Defense stated that the military operation was carried out in the town of Tlajomulco, where violent clashes resulted in the deaths of four gunmen from the cartel and three soldiers were injured.
It added that El Mencho was injured during the operation and died while being airlifted to Mexico City.
The killing of the CJNG leader represents a major blow to the world of organized crime, with the cartel being one of the most powerful and fierce criminal organizations in Mexico, having a widespread presence in several states and a wide influence in smuggling cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States.
In 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice charged him with leading a network that manufactures and smuggles fentanyl across the southern border.
The Mexican Embassy in Washington stated that the United States provided intelligence information that contributed to the operation targeting El Mencho.
Conversely, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described the killing of the CJNG leader as "a significant development for Mexico, the United States, and Latin America," but expressed "deep concern" over the scenes of violence that followed the operation.
Who is El Mencho?
• Real name: Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes
• Age: 59 years old.
• Background: Formerly worked as a police officer before turning to the world of crime.
• Position: Leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
• Influence: Led one of the most expansive and heavily armed cartels in Mexico.
• U.S. charges: Smuggling large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl; managing an active smuggling network across several Mexican states.
• U.S. reward for aiding in his capture: $15 million.
