Mexican special forces killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, during a military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, on Sunday, with complementary information provided by the United States. The operation triggered violent responses from cartel members, including roadblocks and fires in several states, prompting the U.S. State Department to urge Americans in affected areas to shelter in place. Tourism hubs like Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara have seen disruptions to flights and transportation.
The operation took place in Tapalpa, Jalisco, involving aircraft from the Mexican Air Force and the Special Immediate Reaction Force of the National Guard. According to the Mexican government, military personnel came under attack during the raid and repelled the aggression in defense of their physical integrity. Four CJNG members were killed at the scene, and three others, including Oseguera, died from severe wounds during an airlift to Mexico City. Several additional suspects were arrested, and authorities seized armored vehicles and heavy weaponry, such as rocket launchers capable of downing aircraft. Three Mexican security personnel were injured.
Oseguera, an ex-police officer and one of Mexico's most wanted men, led the CJNG, described by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as one of the most powerful and ruthless criminal organizations in Mexico. The cartel is a key supplier of illicit fentanyl and cocaine to the United States, with facilitators operating in nearly all 50 U.S. states. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Oseguera with leading efforts to manufacture and distribute fentanyl for importation into the U.S. The Mexican government had offered a 30 million peso reward—roughly $1.7 million—for information leading to his arrest, while the U.S. posted a $15 million reward.
Following the operation, cartel members engaged in violent acts across Jalisco, Michoacán, and Guanajuato, setting buses on fire and erecting roadblocks in multiple cities, according to Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro. Schools in Jalisco were closed in response. Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla reported blocked state highways. Footage showed fires in the parking lot of a Costco in Puerto Vallarta.
The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert for Americans in states including Jalisco, Baja California, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and Quintana Roo, which include tourism hubs like Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. “Due to ongoing, widespread security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity in many areas of Mexico, U.S. citizens should shelter in place until further notice,” the department posted on X. Roadblocks impacted airline operations, canceling some domestic and international flights in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, while taxis and ride shares were suspended in Puerto Vallarta.
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar stated that “the Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens” and encouraged enrollment in the Smart Traveler program. Employees at the U.S. consulate in Tijuana were sheltering in place, and those in Monterrey were advised to stay in the region. Airlines including Southwest, American, and United issued alerts and rebooking options. In 2024, an estimated 870,000 Americans traveled to Puerto Vallarta and one million to Guadalajara.
Derek Maltz, former acting DEA administrator, noted that Oseguera had been a top U.S. target for years, with ongoing intelligence sharing. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X: “I’ve just been informed that Mexican security forces have killed ‘El Mencho,’ one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins. This is a great development for Mexico, the U.S., Latin America, and the world. The good guys are stronger than the bad guys.”
