Thousands of troops deployed to end clashes in Mexico over death of drug lord 'El Mencho'

Euronews · Feb 24, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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Mexico has deployed some 10,000 troops to end violence across the country sparked by the killing of the country's most powerful cartel leader "El Mencho" by security forces. More than 70 people died in the attempt to capture Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes and the aftermath, authorities said Monday, including at least 27 members of security forces, 46 suspected criminals and one civilian. News of his death triggered spasms of violence, with cartel members blocking roads in 20 states and torching vehicles and businesses. Oseguera Cervantes was the leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the fastest-growing criminal networks in Mexico, known for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks against Mexican government officials. He was wounded Sunday in a shootout with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa, in Jalisco state, and died while being flown to Mexico City, the army said. A prison break in Jalisco saw at least 23 people escape when their jail was attacked in a hail of gunfire by "criminal groups," according to the state security secretary. Girlfriend tracked to hideout Key to locating Oseguera was one of his girlfriends, Mexican Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said. Mexican intelligence, supported by the US military, learned of a rendezvous between the woman and the drug lord and used that information to track him to a ranch in Jalisco state, Trevilla told reporters. Two suspected cartel members were arrested and a variety of weapons seized during the operation, including rocket launchers capable of downing airplanes and destroying armoured vehicles, the army said. Authorities also announced the death of his right-hand man, Hugo H., known as "El Tuli." Mexico said the operation to seize Oseguera was helped by "complementary information" from US authorities. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Washington "provided intelligence support." President Claudia Sheinbaum was adamant that no US forces took part in the capture raid. Experts warn of power vacuum With his son Ruben "El Menchito" Oseguera Gonzalez, 35, convicted by a federal jury in Washington in September, experts have warned the "absence of a direct succession" could lead to a power vacuum. "That opens the door to violent realignments within the organisation," according to David Mora, an expert at the Crisis Group analysis centre. Mexico hoped the death of the world’s biggest fentanyl traffickers would ease Trump administration pressure to do more against the cartels, but many people were anxious as they waited to see the powerful cartel’s reaction. In Guadalajara, the state capital, some ventured out into the streets to work and buy supplies, a notable change from Sunday, when Mexico's second-largest city was almost completely shut down as fearful residents stayed home. US President Donald Trump has demanded Mexico do more to fight the smuggling of fentanyl, threatening to impose more tariffs or take unilateral military action if the country does not show results. The US State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho. In February 2025, the Trump administration designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a foreign terrorist organisation. Additional sources • AP, AFP