Mexico City, 23 February (HS): The Mexican army on Sunday announced that it had killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, during an operation in Jalisco state that triggered retaliatory violence across several regions.

In a statement, the army said Oseguera, 59, was wounded in a clash with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa and died while being flown to Mexico City. He had a reported US bounty of 15 million dollars on his head.

Authorities said six suspected cartel gunmen were killed in the operation and three soldiers were wounded. Two suspects were arrested and weapons were seized, including rocket launchers capable of targeting aircraft and armoured vehicles. The army said the raid was conducted with military intelligence and “complementary information” provided by US authorities.

Following the operation, gunmen blocked more than 20 roads in western Jalisco state using burning vehicles. The unrest spread to neighbouring states, including Michoacan, and to the resort city of Puerto Vallarta. Jalisco, which is scheduled to host World Cup matches later this year, cancelled large public events on Sunday and suspended in-person classes on Monday.

President Claudia Sheinbaum urged citizens to remain calm and said the federal government was coordinating with state authorities to restore order. Streets in the state capital Guadalajara were largely deserted, with several businesses and fuel stations shutting down amid security concerns.

Oseguera was regarded as one of Mexico’s most powerful drug traffickers since the capture of Sinaloa cartel figures Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Ismael Zambada, both of whom are serving prison sentences in the United States. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, formed in 2009, has been described by US authorities as one of the country’s most violent criminal organisations and has been accused of trafficking cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described the development as significant, while the US State Department advised American citizens in parts of Mexico to shelter in place until further notice. Canada also issued a travel advisory for certain areas citing security incidents. Several US and Canadian airlines cancelled flights to affected regions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar