Unrest has spread across at least 20 Mexican states since Oseguera died in custody on Sunday, shortly after being captured by special forces. He had led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most powerful and feared criminal groups, and had been the country’s most wanted fugitive.
According to Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla, 2,500 additional soldiers have been deployed to western Mexico to reinforce security. The operation that led to Oseguera’s capture was carried out by the Mexican army with support from the National Guard and Air Force.
Authorities said El Mencho was tracked while meeting a romantic partner in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco. He was seriously wounded in a firefight between his bodyguards and military commandos and died while being transported to Mexico City. At least six of his security guards were killed in the operation, and three military personnel were injured.
Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch said that since Oseguera’s death, a prison guard, a member of the state prosecutor’s office and 30 alleged CJNG members have also been killed in the violence.
President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the armed forces for the operation and said her administration’s priority was restoring peace and stability. “There is calm, there is government, there are armed forces and there is a lot of co-ordination,” she said.
Widespread retaliatory violence
Following news of his death, cartel members launched coordinated attacks in towns and cities where CJNG operates. Roads were blocked with spikes and nails, buses and vehicles were hijacked and set ablaze, and dozens of banks and businesses were damaged by arson.
By Monday morning, Sheinbaum said the roadblocks had been cleared, though security forces remain on high alert.
The US State Department had previously offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Oseguera’s capture. Mexican officials confirmed that while US intelligence provided complementary information, no US forces were involved in the operation.
