From Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman to Heriberto ‘El Lazca’, the past years have seen a significant number of notorious drug lords taken down. The latest to fall is another big fish in the illicit trade – Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, who found himself on the wrong side of a Mexican military operation.
El Mencho, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in Mexico, was gunned down by Mexican soldiers this past Sunday. The operation, which took place in the western town of Tapalpa in the state of Jalisco, left the drug lord fatally wounded. In an attempt to administer swift medical attention, he was airlifted towards Mexico City but tragically died mid-flight, as reported by the military.
The fall of El Mencho marks a significant victory for the Mexican authorities who have been tirelessly working to dismantle the cartel networks that have plagued the country. However, the success has not been without consequence, as parts of the country have since been gripped by violence in the aftermath of El Mencho’s death.
Prior to El Mencho’s demise, other cartel leaders such as Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada-Garcia and Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman were successfully apprehended by U.S. authorities. Guzman, formerly the powerful head of the Sinaloa Cartel, made global headlines with his dramatic arrest and subsequent imprisonment. Zambada-Garcia, his partner in crime, met the same fate.
As of now, no further arrests or killings of top cartel bosses have been reported. The Mexican authorities, supported by international partners, continue their relentless pursuit to restore peace and rule of law in the country, torn apart by the savage drug wars that have become the hallmark of these illicit organizations.
