At least 27 security agents, 30 criminals and a citizen died during the operation and in subsequent clashes; 59-year-old drug trafficking kingpin died on his way to Mexico City
The death of ‘El Mencho’, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), generated a wave of violence in Mexico and forced the government to mobilize around 10,000 soldiers in the west of the country to guarantee security after the death of its biggest drug trafficking boss in a military operation that left almost 60 people dead and triggered a wave of violence.
At least 27 security agents, 30 criminals and a citizen died during the operation and in subsequent clashes, Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch reported this Monday (23). THE
In response to the leader’s death, the cartel blocked roads, set vehicles on fire, attacked gas stations, businesses and banks and confronted authorities in 20 Mexican states. Washington offered a reward of 15 million dollars (R$77.44 million, at current prices).
Its cartel was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States government in February 2025. President Claudia Sheinbaum assured this Monday that there are no longer any roadblocks, although the AFP found that there are still some near Guadalajara and the region where the capture took place. Guadalajara is the second most important city in Mexico, with around five million inhabitants in the metropolitan area, and will host four matches of the 2026 Football World Cup.
Schools in the state of Jalisco have suspended classes, as have those in around a dozen other states, as a precautionary measure in the face of possible violent acts.
The death of the leader of one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the world raises doubts about who will succeed him in command of this cartel.
*With AFP
