Erica Siaulnski, Staff Writer
One of Mexico’s most wanted cartel leaders had a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head and was killed by Mexican authorities in an operation that led to a spiral of crime and violence. Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, was the leader and co-founder of Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a rapidly growing group that was one of the main traffickers for methamphetamine and fentanyl into the US in recent years. With President Donald Trump putting pressure on Mexico to gain better control of drug trafficking into the states, this operation was both a huge success and huge risk for Mexican authorities to carry out.
The information about Oseguera’s whereabouts was obtained from close friends and people who ran in the smaller circles involving the cartel leader. For years authorities had been on this trail, attempting to find and kill “El Mencho”then on February 20th a source gave the authorities a tip off about the cartel leader’s whereabouts. While the drug lord remained in a hideout alongside security, the Mexican special forces and other authorities began to launch a plan to launch a raid within the following 24 hours.
It was a stealth operation meaning helicopter use was limited, instead forces attacked on the ground. Forces surrounded the area before closing in and opening fire on Oseguera and his associates, Oseguera and others proceeded to fire back. The exchange of fire wounded eight cartel members and two soldiers. Oseguera then fled to a nearby wooded area, with his lieutenants and left behind a decent amount of weapons.
While some Mexican troops stayed behind, to assess who was still in the hideout, a team of Special Forces continued on into the wooded area and found Oseguera hiding in an area full of brush growing. After further searching, two body guards of Osegueras were also found and it was obvious that all three were badly injured and needed medical attention to survive.
Four injured people, the three cartel members and a wounded soldier were airlifted from the area to the hospital, and all three cartel members died on the way. The news of Osergueras death launched large areas of Mexico into violence and destruction. Gangs began to engage in shoot outs with the military. Airlines began to suspend flights to the area out of fear for civilians. 25 members of Mexico’s National Guard have been shot and killed in the violence.
Oseguera’s body was returned to his family following his death. DNA tests ensured that he was in fact the cartel leader. Authorities declined to confirm where this exchange took place.
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