Mafia ‘El Mencho’, who was included in the list of the world’s most wanted drug smuggler and was absconding for a long time, has been killed by the Mexican Army in a major military operation. On Sunday, the army launched a major operation to arrest El Mencho in Tapalpa city of Jalisco state. The drug mafia got injured by bullet in this bloody encounter. He was being airlifted to the hospital, but he died on the way. As soon as the death of ‘El Mencho’ was confirmed, Mexico was infuriated. Arson and violence have started across the country.
Mexico’s most dangerous and rewarded drug lord nemesis Ruben Oseguera Cervantes alias ‘El Mencho’ was killed in a major military operation on Sunday. He was the founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which was placed on the top of the most wanted lists of both the US and Mexico. Mexico’s Defense Ministry has confirmed the military operation. After the death of El Mencho, violence broke out in many states of Mexico. CJNG members have started retaliating.
59 year old ‘El Mencho’ had previously been an officer in the Mexican Police, but later he chose the path of crime. Around 2010, he founded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which has become Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organization today. This cartel was involved in the trafficking of deadly drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and especially fentanyl, mainly into the US. Within no time, Mencho became an international drug smuggler.
According to the Associated Press and other reports, the CJNG supplied drugs to the US on a large scale, leading to thousands of deaths. ‘El Mencho’ did not stop here. The CJNG also carried out several violent incidents. Attacks on security forces, allegations of helicopter downing, attacks on government officials and bloody wars with rival gangs. The US government had offered a reward of $15 million (about Rs 125 crore) for his capture. Mexican police had been searching for him for a long time.
What did Trump say on the death of ‘El Mencho’?
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt has reacted to this operation of the Mexican Army. He said, “The United States provided intelligence support to the Government of Mexico to assist in an operation in Talpalpa, Jalisco, Mexico that eliminated Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, a notorious drug lord and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. ‘El Mencho’ was a top target of the Mexican and United States governments as one of our country’s top traffickers of fentanyl.”
Carolyn Levitt added, “Last year, President Trump rightly described the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, because that is exactly what it is. In this operation, 3 additional members of the cartel were killed, 3 were injured, and 2 were arrested. President Trump has made it clear that the United States will ensure that narcoterrorists who smuggle deadly drugs into our country face justice. The Trump Administration also appreciates the Mexican military and thanks them for their cooperation and the successful completion of this operation.”