The killing of “El Mencho” marks a major blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, but it has left communities across Jalisco bracing for economic fallout and retaliatory violence.
Maria Dolores Aguirre’s family-run corner store has long depended on the steady stream of visitors who come to admire the cobblestone streets and mountain charm of Tapalpa, a picturesque town nestled in the highlands of Jalisco.
That sense of tranquility shattered when gunfire echoed through the hills and military helicopters thundered overhead. Just kilometers away, Mexican forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho,” the powerful leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Now Aguirre, 50, fears the violence could devastate tourism — the lifeblood of her community.
“It’s going to affect us. It’s collateral damage,” she said. “The government is going to have to provide a lot of security. The entire world just saw what happened, and of course people are going to think twice about coming.”
Authorities reported that more than 70 people died during the operation to capture Oseguera Cervantes and in the clashes that followed. Fighting between the CJNG and Mexican security forces spread across several states Monday, heightening concerns that further bloodshed may follow.
Known for orchestrating large-scale fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine trafficking operations into the United States — as well as launching brazen attacks on Mexican officials — Oseguera Cervantes had become one of the most wanted fugitives in North America. The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture.
The White House confirmed that U.S. intelligence agencies provided support for the operation and praised Mexico’s military for neutralizing a figure long viewed as a central player in cross-border drug trafficking.
The operation comes amid intensified pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has demanded stronger action against Mexican cartels. Trump has warned of additional tariffs and even unilateral U.S. military measures if Mexico fails to demonstrate progress in dismantling criminal networks.
Mexican officials had hoped that eliminating one of the world’s most prominent fentanyl traffickers would ease diplomatic strain. Instead, anxiety is mounting as communities across Jalisco — from the Pacific coast to Guadalajara, which is set to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup — brace for possible cartel retaliation.
According to Mexican Defense Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla, authorities tracked one of Oseguera Cervantes’ romantic partners to his hideout near Tapalpa. When security forces moved in Sunday, the cartel leader and two bodyguards fled into a wooded area, where they were gravely wounded in a firefight.
All three were taken into custody but died en route to Mexico City.
For residents like Aguirre, the killing of “El Mencho” represents both a turning point and an uncertainty. While many see it as a decisive blow against organized crime, others worry the power vacuum could ignite fresh waves of violence — threatening not only security but the economic survival of towns that depend on visitors drawn by Jalisco’s beauty rather than its bloodshed.
