Washington has stepped into the spotlight following a dramatic raid in Mexico that claimed the life of one of the world’s most notorious drug lords. The White House announced on Sunday that American intelligence played a pivotal role in the operation targeting Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the brutal Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
In a post on X, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt detailed how US support helped Mexican forces execute the strike in Tepaltepec, Jalisco. ‘El Mencho,’ long a top target for both nations due to his role in flooding the US with fentanyl, was eliminated in the raid. The operation also resulted in the deaths of three other cartel members, injuries to three more, and the arrest of two.
Leavitt praised the Mexican military’s execution of the mission, noting President Donald Trump’s prior designation of CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization. This move underscored the cartel’s threat level, with El Mencho topping lists of major fentanyl traffickers.
The fallout has been chaotic. Violence erupted across multiple Mexican states where CJNG holds sway, including Tamaulipas, Michoacan, and Nayarit. Roads were blockaded, vehicles torched, and armed clashes reported, plunging communities into fear.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm, emphasizing coordination with state governments and calling for restraint amid the unrest. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, a former ambassador to Mexico, hailed the development as a landmark victory for regional security.
This joint success highlights deepening US-Mexico cooperation against narco-terrorism, though the power vacuum left by El Mencho’s death raises questions about future cartel infighting and its impact on border security. As celebrations mix with chaos, authorities on both sides remain vigilant.