FLASH NEWS
Riots over the killing of "El Mencho" in Mexico, 60 people lost their lives, 10 thousand soldiers on the ground
2026-02-23 23:17:56 / BOTA
At least 60 people have been killed in Mexico after violence erupted following the killing of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Menço." The government has deployed about 10,000 soldiers to the state of Jalisco to bring the situation under control.
"El Menço", the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was injured during a military operation in a forest area near the city of Tapalpa and died while being transported by helicopter to Mexico City.
According to authorities, after the announcement of his death, cartel members blocked roads, burned vehicles, attacked gas stations, banks and businesses and clashed with security forces in at least 20 states in the country.
The Minister of Security announced that during the operation and subsequent clashes, 25 members of the National Guard, a security guard and a prosecutor's office employee were killed. On the other hand, security forces neutralized 30 members of the cartel.
The government announced the deployment of 2,500 additional soldiers to Jalisco, bringing the total number of troops deployed to 10,000 since Sunday.
Fear and paralysis in Guadalajara
In Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city and one of the hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the streets were almost empty and most shops remained closed due to fear. Schools were closed in Jalisco and ten other states.
President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that the situation is stabilizing and that there are no more roadblocks, although reports on the ground speak of the continued presence of tensions in the areas around Guadalajara.
Power struggle within the cartel
The 59-year-old Oseguera was considered one of the most powerful crime bosses in Mexico, after the arrest of figures from the rival Sinaloa Cartel such as Joaquin Guzman.
The US had offered up to $15 million in rewards for his capture and in 2025 declared the CJNG a terrorist organization.
Experts warn that the death of "El Mencho" could create a power vacuum within the cartel, increasing the risk of divisions and further escalation of violence in the country.
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