Mexican security forces recently dismantled a key hideout belonging to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Mexico’s dominant marijuana trafficking organization, in a joint operation with U.S. intelligence support. The raid, however, has unleashed a wave of violence, raising questions about whether it stemmed from tracking a romantic partner of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.”
Details of the Tapalpa Operation
The confrontation occurred in Tapalpa, a remote mountainous resort area in Jalisco state enveloped by dense pine forests, making it a prime spot for illicit marijuana production. Defense Secretary Ricardo Treviño stated that a senior 60-year-old CJNG operative from the Tapalpa faction was killed during the assault. He emphasized that intelligence pinpointed the site after the target visited a ranch on February 21, following a meeting there with El Mencho’s associate.027
Treviño twice denied rumors at a press conference that the deceased was El Mencho himself, clarifying the man’s identity through coordinated U.S.-Mexico analysis of photos and field reports.1
Intelligence Confirmation and Cartel Warnings
Authorities confirmed the slain individual oversaw local drug operations and issued stark warnings to other traffickers. Pursuing leads on El Mencho or similar high-profile figures based on superficial tips risks deadly encirclements and firefights at remote strongholds, officials cautioned.
Retaliation and Casualties
In the cartel’s fierce backlash, pursuits led to more than 50 deaths, including civilian victims, as security forces clashed repeatedly. Extensive intelligence sharing between Mexico and the U.S. has tracked cartel movements beyond standard channels, underscoring the operation’s depth.19
