Violence Erupts Across Mexico Following Cartel Leader’s Death

On Sunday, violence surged in over ten of Mexico’s 32 states after the government confirmed the death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the head of the Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG). This led to roadblocks, gunfire, and arson from the Pacific Coast to the Texas border.

The outbreak of violence forced the shutdown of airports and highways, with U.S. authorities advising American citizens to shelter in place as CJNG affiliates launched coordinated attacks throughout the country.

Reports indicate that El Mencho died during a military operation executed by the Mexican Army’s Special Operations Group. At around 1:10 p.m. on Sunday, the country’s Defense Secretary confirmed the news, stating that it was supported by various military units, including the Air Force.

Following early morning rumors of his death, CJNG gunmen began erecting roadblocks with semi-tractor trailers and civilian vehicles, some of which were set ablaze, to disrupt traffic across several major roads in cartel-controlled regions.

CJNG is classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. The violence quickly spread to cities in Tamaulipas, where vehicles were set aflame and commercial buildings were attacked. It was not long before similar incidents occurred in Guanajuato, Michoacan, and Jalisco.

As the day progressed, reports of violent outbreaks emerged from additional states, including Sinaloa, Baja California, Aguascalientes, Colima, Guerrero, Nayarit, Puebla, and Zacatecas.

The violence was primarily concentrated in areas known to be strongholds of the CJNG in northern, central, and western Mexico.

In light of the situation, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a shelter-in-place warning for Americans, which was later updated to include multiple cities across nine states. The warning suggests citizens take safety precautions, such as avoiding areas of law enforcement activity, keeping friends and family informed about their location, steering clear of large crowds, and staying tuned to local news outlets.

Additionally, the cartel’s activities disrupted air travel, leading to the cancellation of several domestic and international flights in various regions of Mexico.