The United States has hailed Mexico’s security forces following the death of one of the country’s most powerful and feared drug traffickers, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho.” The operation, which unfolded in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, marks a significant moment in the decades-long struggle against organized crime networks that have destabilized large parts of Mexico and fueled the drug crisis in the United States.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described the killing as “a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world,” emphasizing the cross-border implications of dismantling such a high-profile criminal figure. According to Mexican authorities, Oseguera was wounded during a joint military operation in the town of Tapalpa and later died while being transported to Mexico City.

Oseguera led the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a criminal syndicate widely regarded as one of Mexico’s most aggressive and expansionist drug trafficking groups. Under his leadership, the cartel evolved into a transnational enterprise accused of flooding US markets with fentanyl, methamphetamines, and cocaine. The group’s influence extended beyond drug trafficking into extortion, fuel theft, and violent territorial control.

Washington had previously designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization, intensifying the legal and diplomatic framework for targeting its activities. Oseguera himself was among the most wanted fugitives in both Mexico and the United States, with American authorities offering rewards of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture.

The operation that led to his death was reportedly supported by US intelligence. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that American agencies........

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