Mexican federal authorities confirmed this Sunday that alias ‘El Mencho’considered for years the most wanted drug trafficker in Mexico and one of the main targets of the United States. The operation was carried out in Tapalpa, state of Jaliscoand caused violence and blockades on roads and cities in the country.
The rise of the most feared boss
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, born on July 17, 1966 in Aguililla, Michoacán, He was the founding leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)one of the most powerful and violent criminal organizations in the world, with a presence in numerous states of Mexico and international operations.
After emigrating to the United States in his youth and then being deported to Mexico, Oseguera became linked to the Millennium Cartel, from which the CJNG emerged after the arrest or death of several leaders in the 2000s. Under his command, the CJNG became independent and grew rapidly.
Under the leadership of El Mencho, The CJNG expanded its territorial control and diversified its criminal activities beyond drug traffickingincluding extortion, kidnapping, human trafficking and other serious crimes.
The organization was also designated as a terrorist group by the US State Department for its systematic use of violence and its ability to challenge the Mexican State.
Why was he so sought after?
For decades, ‘El Mencho’ was considered one of the priority objectives of the authorities of Mexico and the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) offered up to a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
This boss’s strategy was not restricted to traditional drug trafficking: He was also blamed for an escalation of violence against Mexican security forces.armed attacks, intimidating drug messages and open confrontations with the military and police. His cartel competed directly for control of routes and territories with other groups such as the Sinaloa Cartel.
The resources of the CJNG were immense: with a hierarchical and branched structure, the organization generated billions of dollars annually through drug trafficking and other criminal operations with networks in Mexico and beyond, including the US, Europe and Asia.
The last hour: the consequences of the death of ‘El Mencho’ have not been long in coming
The reaction of organized crime has not been long in coming: after the operation, there have been reports drug blockades, burned vehicles and clashes in several states such as Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima and Guanajuatoand the authorities warned about the presence of armed groups.
The confirmation of his death has unleashed a wave of violence and chaos, with reports of assaults at the Guadalajara Airportmass evacuations and threats to American tourists on nearby roads and hotels, according to the agency EFE.
And now what?
Mexican security forces, in coordination with international agencies, have reinforced its operations in several regions to contain the CJNG reaction. The authorities have called for calm and warned of possible new outbreaks of violence.
The figure of ‘El Mencho’ marked a before and after in Mexican organized crime. His ability to modernize drug trafficking, expand his criminal empire and challenge the State made him one of the most notorious drug traffickers of recent decades, comparable only to historical figures such as Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán.
Its abatement does not guarantee the end of criminal structures: security experts warn that Drug trafficking cartels tend to fragment, but they can reorganizeand the violence could be prolonged if it is not accompanied by strategies for institutional strengthening and social development.
