Surveillance of a romantic partner helped put the Mexican armed forces on the trail of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel known as “El Mencho,” who was captured and killed Sunday, Mexican authorities said Monday.
Mexican Defense Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla said that Sunday’s Mexican special forces operation, which included U.S. intelligence information, ended when special forces found Oseguera Cervantes “hidden in the undergrowth” in his home state of Jalisco. After several shootouts, eight gunmen were killed and the drug lord and two of his bodyguards were wounded. They were taken into custody and died on the way to Mexico City, Trevilla said.
In all, more than 70 people were killed in the operation and the ensuing violence, including security forces, suspected cartel members and others.
Here’s how the capture of the country’s most powerful cartel leader and one of the United States’ most wanted fugitives unfolded, according to Mexican authorities:
Following a romantic partner
Both Mexico and the United States had spent years tracking “El Mencho,” who faced numerous outstanding arrest warrants for organized crime and drug trafficking in both countries.
This time, however, the intelligence efforts proved successful. Trevilla noted that military investigators identified and began following a trusted associate of one of Oseguera Cervantes’ romantic partners. This individual escorted the woman to Tapalpa, Jalisco, on Friday for a meeting with the drug lord. The military official explained that the exact location was confirmed by “very important additional information” provided by U.S. intelligence.
A land and air blockade
Once the woman left after spending the night with “El Mencho,” special forces finalized their plans, having confirmed he was staying in the area with a security detail.
Units from the Mexican army and the National Guard established a ground cordon, while six helicopters and additional special forces stood by in states bordering Jalisco.
The Mexican Air Force provided further support with reconnaissance and aircraft, Trevilla said. In the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, after his presence was confirmed, the operation began. Throughout the mission, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was kept informed of every development while on a tour in northern Mexico.
A violent response
Gen. Trevilla described the criminals’ response as extremely violent.
During the confrontation, he said “El Mencho” attempted to flee with two bodyguards while a heavily armed group remained behind to stall the military advance. The death toll at the scene reached eight, which Trevilla noted was four more than initially reported on Sunday.
Among the seized weaponry were two rocket launchers, including one identical to the model used by the CJNG in 2015 to down a military helicopter. That 2015 attack served as a grim milestone, proving the cartel was prepared to meet the Mexican authorities with lethal, full-scale force.
