What's happening in Mexico... "Jalisco"... a transcontinental drug cartel led by "El Mencho"

  Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," the leader of one of Mexico's most dangerous drug cartels, was killed in a military operation by the Mexican government in the state of Jalisco.

His death marked a turning point in Mexico's war on drugs, revealing the deep reach of drug cartels and their violent methods of smuggling and territorial control.

El Mencho led one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, for many years and was considered one of the country's most violent criminal figures.

Cross-border activities

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (JNG) was founded in 2009 after splitting from the Sinaloa Cartel, quickly becoming an independent organization led by "El Mencho." As its influence expanded, the two groups engaged in direct conflict over smuggling routes and territories within and outside Mexico.

Until last year, the cartel was considered the main rival of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the oldest and most powerful drug networks in the country, according to the U.S. National Counterterrorism Guide.

JALISCO is engaged in conflicts with rivals in several states and smuggles synthetic drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as fentanyl, in recent years, to Australia, Canada, Europe, Africa, and South America, according to the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center.

The cartel has an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 members, according to U.S. government estimates, and is believed to generate billions of dollars annually from its criminal activities, which include drug trafficking, extortion, illegal logging, mining, and migrant smuggling.

It relies on violence and intimidation to maintain its control, carrying out public executions and displaying bodies in public places, sometimes even publicizing its activities on social media.

El Mencho expanded his cartel's influence by forging alliances with smaller local criminal groups outside its main strongholds in Jalisco, Nayarit, and Colima. This allowed him to establish the organization's presence in new areas and strengthen its network.

Attention in Mexico has recently turned to the Jalisco cartel, which is no longer limited to drug trafficking but has expanded to include other illicit activities such as fuel theft and crude oil smuggling, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

Its activities have not been limited to economic expansion; it has also targeted officials. In 2020, members of the group attempted to assassinate Security Minister Omar García Harfuch when he was serving as Mexico City's police chief. This led the U.S. State Department to designate the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization last year, making any financial or commercial dealings with it subject to significant legal risks.

power struggle

Although Mexico launched its most intense anti-drug cartel campaign in a decade, the killing of El Mencho may alleviate political pressure from the U.S. administration, which had been threatening strikes against the cartels.

However, security analysts indicate that these criminal empires are so powerful, wealthy, and entrenched that they are difficult to dismantle easily.

The violent response to the cartel leader's death revealed the extent of these groups' power and their ability to challenge the state on the ground. The violence that erupted after his death disrupted traffic, suspended public transportation, and canceled some flights, while authorities advised residents to stay indoors.

One cartel member warned of the potential for escalating fighting between rival factions vying for control after El Mencho's death. Reuters quoted him as saying that the attacks were retaliatory, initially directed against the government, and would later morph into internal conflicts between the cartels.

Past experiences in Mexico have shown that targeting drug cartel leaders often opens the door to new waves of violence, either in revenge for the leader's death or as a result of power struggles.

Experts believe that the future of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel will be determined by the clarity of its internal succession mechanism. Without cohesive leadership, the leader's absence could lead to internal disintegration and a new cycle of confrontations.

American support behind the scenes

United States played an intelligence role in the military raid that killed "El Mencho," through a task force specializing in gathering intelligence on drug cartels, according to a U.S. defense official speaking to Reuters.

U.S. officials also stated that the Interagency Drug Enforcement Task Force, which includes several U.S. government agencies, was secretly formed late last year to identify drug cartel members on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The official emphasized that the raid itself was a Mexican military operation, with the U.S. involvement limited to providing complementary intelligence, according to the Mexican Ministry of Defense.

U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the capture of "El Mencho."

Following his death, Washington was quick to welcome the news. Christopher Landau, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and ambassador to Mexico in the Trump administration, described "El Mencho" as "one of the most ruthless and bloodthirsty drug lords," noting that his death represented a significant blow to the transnational drug trafficking network.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Jalisco Cartel is one of the greatest threats to public health, safety, and national security in the United States. The cartel operates clandestine laboratories in Mexico to manufacture illegal drugs, which are then transported through extensive distribution networks into the United States. Its associates and affiliates operate in most of the 50 U.S. states.

In May, U.S. President Donald Trump offered to send U.S. troops to Mexico to help combat drug trafficking, an offer rejected by the Mexican president. Trump has publicly stated that the United States will take unilateral military action if Mexico fails to dismantle the drug cartels.

While Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum opposes any US action within her country, she has pledged to work closely with Washington, including through intelligence sharing.

Source: Reuters