Mexico on edge after military operation killed cartel boss

Police officers passing through a Mexican military checkpoint in Naranjo De Chila, Mexico, the hometown of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, on Feb. 24, 2022. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” was the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and widely regarded as one of the country’s most violent criminal figures. (Daniel Berehulak/The New York Times)

By JACK NICAS and JAMES WAGNER

Authorities in Mexico said Monday they were restoring order to a country on edge after an outbreak of violence left highways blocked, buildings burned and at least 62 people dead.

The nation’s most powerful criminal organization, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, unleashed the chaos across the nation Sunday after a Mexican military raid killed the group’s leader and the nation’s most wanted cartel boss.

Mexico’s defense secretary, Gen. Ricardo Trevilla, said Monday that the authorities had located the cartel boss, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” by tracking one of his romantic partners. After Oseguera Cervantes met with the partner Friday, authorities immediately began planning an operation that they carried out Sunday morning.

That handed President Claudia Sheinbaum — under intense pressure from President Donald Trump to combat the cartels — a momentous decision.

Should she attempt to take out Oseguera Cervantes and potentially open a new chapter of violence across Mexico less than four months before it is to co-host soccer’s World Cup? Or should she leave Oseguera Cervantes free in a bid to maintain the status quo?

Sheinbaum chose to go after Oseguera Cervantes.

The Mexican security force operation that led to his death set off a wave of violence that was even wider than expected. In at least a dozen states, Oseguera Cervantes’ followers wreaked havoc, attacking security forces, blocking highways and setting fire to supermarkets, banks and vehicles.

Airlines and bus companies canceled routes, trapping travelers, including thousands of tourists in beach destinations such as Puerto Vallarta. They were told to shelter in place as they watched plumes of smoke rise from the burning city.

On Monday, Sheinbaum said Mexican authorities were operating from a command center to oversee the response. It appeared that authorities had mostly restored order in cities across the country, though the atmosphere remained tense. Classes and businesses remained closed in some of the areas hit hardest, and many residents stayed home.

Mexican officials said they had arrested 70 people and killed 34 people suspected of being cartel members in the chaos Sunday, while 25 members of the national guard had been killed. The dead also included a state prosecutor, a security guard and a civilian, officials said. Local news outlets reported the civilian was a pregnant woman who had been caught in a shootout.

In a news conference Monday, Trevilla said the operation against Oseguera Cervantes had taken place in a forested town of about 20,000 called Tapalpa, which is popular with travelers.

Mexican ground forces moved in on Oseguera Cervantes’ bunker early Sunday, backed by six helicopters, and immediately took on fire from cartel members, Trevilla said. Oseguera Cervantes and his inner circle fled into a wooded area, and Mexican special forces pursued them, he said.

“They found him hiding in the brush,” Trevilla said.

Oseguera Cervantes’ team opened fire on the government forces and hit a helicopter, he said, forcing it to land at a nearby military installation. Eventually, the Mexican forces wounded Oseguera Cervantes and two of his bodyguards, he said, and then loaded them onto a helicopter for medical transport, where all three died. Their bodies were later flown to Mexico City.

Here’s what else to know:

— Who is El Mencho? Oseguera Cervantes formed the Jalisco cartel just over 15 years ago after he broke away from the rival Sinaloa cartel. The cartel’s activities include drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping and migrant smuggling, and Oseguera Cervantes had a reputation for attacking security forces and terrorizing communities. The U.S. State Department offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

— City on edge: The coastal city of Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination, remained shrouded in smoke after a day of violence that saw Mexicans and visitors alike huddle inside for safety. Officials from at least three cruise ships said the vessels would not make port in the resort city as planned Monday.

— Cartel blow: Killing Oseguera Cervantes is a major victory for Mexican authorities, who recently began a new offensive against drug cartels. It could also help counteract pressure from Trump, who has threatened military strikes against Mexico if it did not do more to fight cartels.

— What’s next? The death of Oseguera Cervantes dealt a major blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, but few believe it spells the end of the powerful group. The cartel’s survival depends on how quickly it can appoint a successor and close ranks, or if it fragments as internal factions fight for power.