Mexican Army Kills “El Mencho” in Jalisco Operation After $15M Bounty

Mexico’s army has killed “El Mencho,” leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in an operation that quickly triggered unrest around Puerto Vallarta.

A federal official told the Associated Press that Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes was killed Sunday in Jalisco state, marking one of the most significant cartel strikes in years.

The official, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the killing occurred during a military operation in the cartel’s stronghold. The U.S. State Department had offered up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest, and the Trump administration designated CJNG a foreign terrorist organization earlier this month.

Within hours, roadblocks and burning vehicles were reported across parts of Jalisco. Videos circulating on social media showed smoke rising over Puerto Vallarta, with panic reported at the city’s airport.

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Air Canada said it suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta due to an “ongoing security situation.”

The killing tests Mexico’s long-debated “kingpin strategy,” which critics argue can splinter cartels and trigger waves of retaliatory violence rather than weaken organized crime networks.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has previously criticized that approach, but she now faces mounting pressure to demonstrate control after targeting one of Mexico’s most aggressive criminal groups.

Security officials have not announced whether additional operations are underway, leaving questions about potential retaliation and the stability of the region’s key tourist corridor.

For now, authorities are urging caution as the aftermath continues to unfold.

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