Violence has erupted in Mexico after troops killed Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, head of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) drug cartel.
The gang is one of the fastest-growing criminal networks in
the North American nation, with El Mencho the country’s most-wanted drug
leader.
El Mencho was notorious for trafficking fentanyl,
methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks
against government officials who challenged his operations.
The 59-year-old former police officer was killed on Sunday
as the Mexican military staged a shoot-out in his home state of Jalisco in an
attempt to capture him.
Four cartel members were killed at the scene, while another
three, including El Mencho, died while being flown to Mexico City, the nation’s
capital.
The US provided intelligence support for the operation,
according to the White House. The state department had offered a $15 million
reward for information leading to El Mencho’s capture.
El Mencho’s death triggered chaos across several Mexican
states as cartel members barricaded roads, torched vehicles, and clashed with
authorities.
Videos on social media showed multiple bonfires and plumes
of smoke billowing across Puerto Vallarta, a popular resort city for tourists
on Mexico’s west coast.
El Occidental, a local newspaper, published footage showing
scenes of what appeared to be heavy fighting in Tapalpa, which is located in
Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountain range.
The unrest forced airlines to cancel dozens of flights.
In Jalisco’s capital, Guadalajara — one of the 2026 World
Cup host cities — panicked passengers at the airport sprinted for cover,
fearing reprisal attacks from El Mencho’s fighters. Armed men were seen
torching vehicles in the heart of the city.
A separate video posted on social media showed a group of
heavily armed men setting fire to a petrol station in Guadalajara.
School has been cancelled in several Mexican states while
local and foreign governments alike asked citizens to remain indoors.
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum urged people to remain
“calm”, saying “in most parts of the country, activities are proceeding
normally”.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com