Authorities stated on Monday that the violence that broke out across Mexico resulted in the deaths of 25 Mexican National Guard troops and more than two dozen criminal suspects following the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel.
Mexico’s Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said that the troops in Jalisco were killed in six separate attacks after Oseguera Cervantes was killed in a shootout inside his home while the Mexican military was attempting to apprehend him. He also mentioned that around 30 criminal suspects were killed in Jalisco and four others in Michoacan.
García Harfuch further added that a prison guard, an agent from the state prosecutor’s office, and an unidentified woman were also among the deceased.
The U.S. commended the Mexican operation that led to the death of the cartel leader, who was known as “El Mencho.”
Reuters reported that Mexican Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla stated on Monday that intelligence leading to the military operation came from a romantic partner of the crime boss.
The cartel responded to the death of their leader by placing roadblocks and setting vehicles on fire throughout Sunday.
President Claudia Sheinbaum called for calm on Monday, and authorities said that all over 250 cartel roadblocks across 20 states had been cleared.
The U.S. State Department said that its personnel in cities across Mexico would shelter in place on Monday, urging U.S. citizens in many parts of Mexico to do the same.
Oseguera Cervantes was the leader of one of the largest criminal organizations in the country.
The criminal network was notorious for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine to the United States and carrying out brazen attacks against government officials who challenged it.
By Anders Hagstrom and