El Mencho

How “El Mencho’s” death could reshape Mexico’s largest cartel | The Economist

El Mencho, Sarah Birke, Jason Palmer

Following the capture and death of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, immediate widespread violence erupted across 15 to 20 Mexican states before subsiding by Tuesday. This high-stakes operation, driven by diplomatic pressure from the United States and a strategic shift in Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's security agenda, demonstrates advanced tactical capabilities while exposing the cartel's military-grade assets. Despite the short-term stabilization, experts warn that removing such a dominant figure often triggers long-term fragmentation and internecine conflict, posing a significant threat to the upcoming World Cup co-hosted in Guadalajara.