El Mencho's Death Triggers More Violence

By Chelsea Lu Apr 1, 2026

On July 17, 1966, a boy is born into poverty in the Mexican state of Michoacán. By the age of 14, he starts guarding marijuana plantations; at 19, he immigrates illegally to California, where he is arrested and deported for heroin trafficking charges; and, by the early 2010s, he emerges as the kingpin of the infamous Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), becoming the most wanted man in Mexico and one of the most wanted in the U.S. This man is Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as "El Mencho."

Krio Moon Art

For over a decade, following the CJNG's violent militaristic tactics and rapid national expansion, Mexican and U.S. authorities have actively pursued El Mencho, with the U.S. placing a $15 million bounty and designating him as a top-tier target. After years of fruitless searching, the manhunt saw its first concrete tip regarding his whereabouts on Feb. 20, when a "trusted man" of one of his current lovers came forward with access to the hideout on the outskirts of Talpapa, Jalisco. Over the next 24 hours, Mexican special forces operatives and the Mexican National Guard's Special Immediate Reaction Force constructed an attack plan with the help of U.S. intelligence, launching the raid on Feb. 22. During the operation, El Mencho's lieutenants opened fire, causing a gunfight that left eight cartel members dead and two Mexican soldiers wounded. El Mencho and his two bodyguards died from sustained injuries while being flown to Mexico City.

"The U.S. was right to interfere with El Mencho's capture, because the CJNG had a lasting impact in both Mexico and the U.S. Since the CJNG is partly responsible for the drug trafficking in the U.S., it is only reasonable that Trump wanted to suppress El Mencho. As an American, I hope the amount of illegal drug smuggling will decrease after his death," Freshman Kayla Park said.

El Mencho's death comes at a pivotal time for Mexico, as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum faces mounting pressure from the Trump administration to clamp down on cartels and drug trafficking, who threaten unwanted deployment of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) forces if results are not produced. Aside from Mexico, President Trump has pressured other Latin American countries, like Bolivia, Columbia and Ecuador, to clamp down on narcoterrorism and welcome DEA cooperation as well. In a further attempt to combat drug trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border, he has also officially named several cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Moreover, as documented by the Mexico Peace Index 2025, the country has seen a sharp deterioration of security within the past decade, mirroring the rising prevalence of cartel violence. From 2015 to 2019, the national homicide rate rose from 15.1 to 28.2 deaths per 100,000 people, and data from the Uppsala Data Conflict Program reports that the CJNG has been related to three out of four homicide from cartel clashes since 2016, defending its reputation as one of the most aggressive cartels in the country.

Immediately after El Mencho's death, Mexico was thrust into chaos as cartel members carried out retaliatory violence. Over 250 roadblocks and burning vehicles were erected across 20 states in an attempt to delay military operations. Schools were closed, stores were vandalized, and many airlines cancelled flights in and out of Jalisco, trapping tourists and citizens alike. Capital city Guadalajara turned into a ghost town overnight, as foreign governments ordered their nationals to shelter in place and governor Pablo Lemus shut down public transportation.

Authorities reported over 70 dead and 12,000 missing in the raid and the aftermath, including 25 National Guard soldiers over six separate clashes with cartel members.

"Everyone was living in constant fear and afraid to go outside after El Mencho's death, especially since the sudden uptick of violence demonstrates how cartels are becoming more aggressive and targeting innocent civilians. If no action is taken, the situation will only worsen, but even with heightened security, innocent lives will still be sacrificed as these cartels will not surrender without a fight," Sophomore Genesis Lopez said.

While the killing of the drug lord brought hopes of a more peaceful future, the country remains trapped in violence for the time being. Al Jazeera states that the CJNG will likely survive and adapt with a new kingpin, who will initiate another cycle of unpredictable fighting. Yet, taking a different perspective, the true cost of cartel violence lies in the psychological toll it takes on ordinary civilians. According to an article from the National Institute of Health, daily exposure to relentless violence has been associated with mental health disorders such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and neurotransmitter hyperactivity, or a sufained hypersensitive state. Public safety continues to be both at risk and of top priority. Most notably, Mexico plans to deploy almost 100,000 security personnel in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara, where the violence began.

As long as cartel warfare exists, people will continue to bear the burden of being caught in the crossfire, doing everything they can to simply survive.

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About the Contributor

Krio Moon

artist

Krio Moon is a junior at Leland and an artist for The Charger Account. Outside of school, she likes to play tennis, watch superhero movies, and read books.

Chelsea Lu

page editor

Chelsea Lu is a sophomore at Leland High School and the Entertainment and Feature School page editor. She likes to bake, read, and watch movies in her bed.