(DDM) – Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known by the alias “El Mencho,” was one of the most feared drug traffickers in Mexico before being reported killed in a military operation.
He was the founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, commonly referred to as CJNG.
Under his leadership, CJNG rose rapidly to become one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations.
The cartel was widely accused of orchestrating large-scale drug trafficking operations, including efforts to move fentanyl into the United States.
Authorities in both Mexico and the United States described Oseguera as a central figure in the global narcotics trade.
Before entering organized crime, Oseguera reportedly worked as a police officer in Mexico.
However, his trajectory shifted dramatically as he became involved in drug trafficking networks during the 1990s.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, he later moved to the United States, where he participated in heroin distribution activities.
In 1994, he was convicted in California for conspiracy to distribute heroin.
He served approximately three years in a US prison before being deported to Mexico.
Following his return, he gradually expanded his criminal operations.
Over time, he consolidated power and formally established the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
CJNG became known for its aggressive tactics and rapid territorial expansion across multiple Mexican states.
Security analysts frequently described the group as highly organized and heavily armed.
As violence escalated in Mexico’s drug war, Oseguera gained notoriety as one of the country’s most elusive fugitives.
The United States government placed a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest.
He was widely regarded as Mexico’s most powerful cartel leader after the capture of Joaquín Guzmán, also known as “El Chapo,” last decade.
Born in July 1966 in the western Mexican state of Michoacán, Oseguera built a reputation for secrecy and operational discipline.
Unlike some cartel figures who cultivated public personas, he remained largely out of sight.
His influence, however, was evident in the scale and coordination of CJNG’s activities.
The cartel’s expansion coincided with increased trafficking of synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, into North American markets.
US authorities repeatedly linked CJNG to significant drug seizures and violent confrontations with Mexican security forces.
Over the years, joint operations between Mexican military forces and law enforcement agencies targeted CJNG strongholds.
Reports of his death in a military operation mark a significant development in Mexico’s long-running struggle against organized crime.
However, experts caution that the removal of a cartel leader does not automatically dismantle the broader criminal network.
CJNG’s operational structure and regional presence may continue to pose security challenges despite the reported killing of its leader.
