Mexico was gripped by a wave of coordinated violence after the reported killing of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho”, the alleged leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). As dramatic images of burning buses and highway blockades circulated from Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, the United States issued an urgent travel warning advising its citizens to shelter in place across several Mexican states.
Authorities in the state of Jalisco have declared a statewide “Code Red” after a high-profile law enforcement operation in the town of Tapalpa during the early hours of Sunday, in which Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes was reported killed.
El Mencho was the head of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most formidable drug cartels.
The Mexican Embassy in Washington confirmed that United States authorities provided intelligence support during the military operation that culminated in El Mencho’s death.
“In addition to central military intelligence efforts, complementary information was provided by US authorities within the framework of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the United States,” the embassy said in a post on X.
The development marks a potentially pivotal moment in Mexico’s long-running confrontation with organised crime, yet the immediate aftermath has exposed the fragility of public security in key urban and tourist centres.
Federal raid in Tapalpa sparks cartel retaliation
According to state officials, the unrest followed a federal military deployment in Tapalpa, a mountain municipality in southern Jalisco known more for tourism than armed conflict. Although authorities have not disclosed operational specifics, Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus acknowledged that federal action triggered violent reprisals by criminal groups.
“Federal forces carried out an operation in Tapalpa a few hours ago, which has led to clashes in the area. Also as a result of said operation, in various points of that region and in other parts of Jalisco, individuals have burned and blocked vehicles with the aim of hindering the actions of the authorities,” he wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.
“I have given the instruction to immediately establish the security coordination table with authorities from all three levels of government and to activate the red code in order to prevent acts against the population,” he added.
The state’s Security Cabinet later confirmed that coordination with national forces was ongoing to stabilise affected areas.
What happened in Jalisco?
In a post to social media site X, Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro announced: “Federal forces carried out an operation in Tapalpa a few hours ago, which has led to confrontations in the area. Also as a result of this operation, in various points of that region and in other parts of Jalisco, individuals have burned and blocked vehicles to hinder the action of the authorities.”
“I have given the