Cartel chief’s romantic accomplice helped result in lethal seize of “El Mencho” who was discovered hiding, officers say

Surveillance of a romantic accomplice helped put the Mexican armed forces on the path of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the infamous chief of the Jalisco New Era Cartel generally known as “El Mencho,” who was captured and killed Sunday, Mexican authorities stated Monday.

Mexican Protection Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla stated that Sunday’s Mexican particular forces operation, which included U.S. intelligence info, ended when particular forces discovered Oseguera Cervantes “hidden within the undergrowth” in his residence state of Jalisco. After a number of shootouts, eight gunmen have been killed and the drug lord and two of his bodyguards have been wounded. They have been taken into custody and died on the best way to Mexico Metropolis, Trevilla stated.

In all, greater than 70 individuals have been killed within the operation and the following violence, together with safety forces, suspected cartel members and others.

A supply briefed on the operation advised CBS Information the raid was the end result of intensified U.S.-Mexico counter-cartel cooperation below Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Intelligence sharing has markedly expanded in current months via newly emphasised joint interagency channels tied to U.S. Northern Command. 

Here is how the seize of the nation’s strongest cartel chief and one of many United States’ most wished fugitives unfolded, in accordance with Mexican authorities:

Following a romantic accomplice

Each Mexico and the USA had spent years monitoring “El Mencho,” who confronted quite a few excellent arrest warrants for organized crime and drug trafficking in each international locations. He had a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head and was “the primary precedence for DEA and admittedly for federal regulation enforcement in the USA,” a high DEA agent in Mexico advised CBS Information in 2019.

This time, nevertheless, the intelligence efforts proved profitable. Trevilla famous that army investigators recognized and started following a trusted affiliate of one among Oseguera Cervantes’ romantic companions. This particular person escorted the lady to Tapalpa, Jalisco, on Friday for a gathering with the drug lord. The army official defined that the precise location was confirmed by “crucial further info” offered by U.S. intelligence.

Land and air blockade

As soon as the lady left after spending the evening with “El Mencho,” particular forces finalized their plans, having confirmed he was staying within the space with a safety element.

Models from the Mexican military and the Nationwide Guard established a floor cordon, whereas six helicopters and extra particular forces stood by in states bordering Jalisco.

The Mexican Air Power offered additional assist with reconnaissance and plane, Trevilla stated. Within the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, after his presence was confirmed, the operation started. All through the mission, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was stored knowledgeable of each improvement whereas on a tour in northern Mexico.

A violent response

Gen. Trevilla described the criminals’ response as extraordinarily violent.

In the course of the confrontation, he stated “El Mencho” tried to flee with two bodyguards whereas a closely armed group remained behind to stall the army advance. The demise toll on the scene reached eight, which Trevilla famous was 4 greater than initially reported on Sunday.

Among the many seized weaponry have been two rocket launchers, together with one similar to the mannequin utilized by the CJNG in 2015 to down a army helicopter. That 2015 assault served as a grim milestone, proving the cartel was ready to satisfy the Mexican authorities with deadly, full-scale drive.

“Hiding within the undergrowth”

Oseguera Cervantes tried to take cowl in a wooded space dotted with cabins on the outskirts of Tapalpa. Though the criminals have been closely armed with rocket launchers, Trevilla famous that they didn’t handle to deploy them. Particular forces ultimately “positioned him hiding within the undergrowth,” triggering one other intense confrontation that left “El Mencho” and two of his bodyguards wounded.

In the course of the chaos, a army helicopter was compelled into an emergency touchdown after being struck by gunfire, and two people have been apprehended on the scene. Three troopers have been injured within the engagement.

Useless en route

As soon as the scene was secured, the cartel chief and his bodyguards have been loaded onto a helicopter for emergency transport to a close-by hospital. Nonetheless, Trevilla confirmed they died en route, noting they have been already in “vital situation.”

Following their deaths, the flight plan was redirected. As a substitute of touchdown within the Jalisco state capital, the our bodies have been flown to Mexico Metropolis to preempt any violent retaliation from the felony group.

Regardless of the lack of its founder, the cartel is anticipated to retain substantial operational capability, a supply briefed on the operation advised CBS Information.

Nonetheless, a succession wrestle contained in the cartel has begun, with regional commanders battling for energy and management. Up to now, the elimination of cartel leaders in Mexico has usually resulted of their organizations splintering and in secondary violence, fairly than collapse. The early indications are that this sample is repeating, with revenge assaults and destabilization efforts throughout as many as 20 Mexican states.

$1,000 for each soldier killed

About 62 miles west of Tapalpa, a logistics and monetary operator identified solely as “El Tuli” reportedly supplied gunmen a bounty of 20,000 pesos — over $1,000 — for each soldier killed, stated Trevilla.

The protection minister additionally stated “El Tuli” — allegedly Oseguera’s right-hand man — was the mastermind of a collection of roadblocks, arson assaults and hits on authorities installations throughout Jalisco state.

Safety Secretary Omar García Harfuch stated that essentially the most extreme violence occurred in Jalisco, the place 25 Nationwide Guard members, a jail official, a prosecutor’s workplace worker and a presumed civilian girl have been killed, together with 30 suspected criminals.

In neighboring Michoacán, 4 extra gunmen died whereas 15 safety personnel have been wounded.

A paratrooper rifle brigade tracked down “El Tuli” and killed him in a shootout, seizing lengthy and quick firearms alongside almost $1.4 million in combined U.S. and Mexican foreign money. Nonetheless, retaliation from the cartel continued in a number of Mexican states.