On Monday, Mexican officials revealed that Mexico’s most – wanted fentanyl kingpin, “,” was captured and killed on Sunday. This happened after authorities tracked his romantic partner to a secret meeting place over the weekend.
Reportedly, the operation started on February 20, with the target being Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” He had a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head and came to power after the arrest of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo stated during a news conference that military intelligence identified and found a trusted courier or guard associated with one of Oseguera Cervantes’s romantic partners.
That associate then took the partner to a designated cabin for an overnight meeting with “El Mencho.”
“On February 20, through central military intelligence efforts, a trusted man of one of El Mencho’s romantic partners was located. He took her to a facility in the town of ,” Trevilla Trejo said.
The next day, the partner left the property, but intelligence confirmed that Oseguera Cervantes stayed behind with a small security team. This led authorities, including and the National Guard’s Immediate Reaction Force, to carry out the operation.
Reportedly, security forces raided the private property after aerial surveillance saw Oseguera Cervantes’ inner circle openly carrying illegal high – caliber weapons, such as rocket launchers and long guns.
During the confrontation, Oseguera Cervantes’ security team was reported to have fired “very violently” at military personnel, which made the Special Forces engage with the attackers. Officials said that eight criminals were killed in the initial phase (correcting earlier reports of four), and two military personnel were also wounded.
Officials said that amidst the chaos at the cabins, Oseguera Cervantes and his “close circle” fled to a nearby wooded area. After soldiers found them “hidden among the brush,” cartel suspects allegedly opened fire on the troops. According to Trevilla Trejo, military personnel then wounded “El Mencho” and two of his escorts in the shootout.
Military medics determined that Oseguera Cervantes and his two escorts were in critical condition and needed to be evacuated immediately by helicopter. Officials said that Oseguera Cervantes and his two escorts ultimately died during transport.
Authorities noted that 2,500 reinforcements were sent to join the 7,000 already in the state to prevent more violence in case of the cartel’s retaliation.
Oseguera Cervantes’ capture and subsequent death is one of the most significant blows to drug trafficking and organized crime in Mexico since President called for violence.