Mexico made 'high-risk guess' in taking down cartel boss El Mencho

[ad_1] The small print supplied by the Mexican authorities about Sunday's operation to seize Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, often known as "El Mencho," the top of one of many nation's strongest legal teams, might simply discover a house in a Hollywood script.

After monitoring El Mencho's lover to his lair, Mexican particular forces launched an operation by air and land, main to 2 shootouts that left the drug boss mortally wounded. El Mencho ultimately died aboard a army helicopter because it flew to get him medical assist.

Gen. Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, the secretary of nationwide defence, described these particulars for the world to listen to throughout President Claudia Sheinbaum's weekday morning information convention on Monday.

But one of many key features of this narrative remained obscured — why the Mexican authorities determined this was the suitable time to decapitate the Jalisco New Era Cartel (CJNG), one of the vital highly effective organized crime teams within the nation.

The transfer carries doubtlessly important threat because the nation prepares to co-host the World Cup of soccer in slightly over 4 months.

WATCH | Calm has began to return to Mexico after killing of El Mencho: 1000's caught in Mexico as cartel chaos calms

Calm has began to return to Mexico following the killing of the highly effective cartel chief often known as El Mencho, however journey advisories stay and Canadians are ready for flights to renew. In the meantime, Mexico's president stated authorities tracked a romantic companion of the drug kingpin to begin the operation that left about 30 cartel members and 25 troops useless. The choice to strike concerned a number of components, say consultants in Mexico, together with a window of alternative mixed with the continuing strain the Sheinbaum administration has confronted from the U.S., which provided intelligence used within the operation.

El Mencho was the final of the main drug bosses who remained on the free. His legal group can also be a serious exporter of fentanyl to the U.S., stated José Reveles, a veteran Mexican journalist and creator who has investigated organized crime and corruption.

El Mencho was additionally ailing, requiring common dialysis therapy, which he acquired from a private cellular clinic, stated Reveles.

"It's attainable that the turning level was particularly that intelligence got here from the US," he stated.

"[President] Donald Trump claimed that [the Mexican] authorities was doing nothing towards the 'terrorists,' which is how he refers to drug trafficking.… This reduces a few of that strain."

'Most resonant triumph' The CJNG just isn't solely a serious worldwide participant within the drug commerce, however can also be concerned in working extortion rackets all through the agriculture sector, which incorporates targets like avocado and lime growers.

The CJNG has been designated a terrorist group by the U.S. and Canada.

Reveles stated the federal government might have struck to weaken the CJNG with the World Cup on the horizon.

"This helps to maintain the nation peaceable," stated Reveles, who referred to as referred to as it Sheinbaum's "most resonant triumph" since she took energy in October 2024.

"Clearly, she can also be recognizing the participation of the U.S.," stated Reveles.

El Mencho's loss of life has additionally given Sheinbaum a serious card to play as she works to stave off Trump's said want to see U.S. troops battle organized crime teams in Mexico, stated David Mora, a senior analyst with Worldwide Disaster Group.

Sheinbaum has constantly offered a mannequin of co-operation with the U.S. that features a excessive diploma of intelligence-sharing.

WATCH | Will El Mencho's cartel wage 'complete conflict' towards Mexico? Will El Mencho's cartel wage 'complete conflict' towards Mexico? | About That

Violence and shelter-in-place orders are rippling out throughout Mexico after the army killed a cartel chief generally often known as 'El Mencho.' Andrew Chang explains how Jalisco New Era, arguably Mexico's most harmful cartel, has been constructing a legal empire for a number of years.

Photos offered by The Canadian Press, Reuters and Getty Photos Nevertheless, relating to making a transfer primarily based on that info, the president has insisted solely Mexican boots are allowed in operations on Mexican soil, stated Mora.

"That is Claudia Sheinbaum offering a win that's legible for Trump, but in addition stating that Mexican troops can do it," he stated.

Earlier authorities determined towards operation David Saucedo, a company safety advisor primarily based in Mexico Metropolis, stated there was a widespread perception in nationwide safety circles that the federal government was ready till after the World Cup to maneuver towards El Mencho.

So Sunday's operation "was one thing that was sudden," he stated.

<img loading="lazy" alt="A newspaper seller in Mexico City on Monday arranges front pages which nearly all show pictures of drug lord El Mencho." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e517eeeb-3e61-4196-8cec-a39df491396a,1771941290693/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2400%2C2400%29%3BResize%3D796 796w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e517eeeb-3e61-4196-8cec-a39df491396a,1771941290693/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2400%2C2400%29%3BResize%3D1083 1083w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e517eeeb-3e61-4196-8cec-a39df491396a,1771941290693/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2400%2C2400%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) calc(100vw - 32px),730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e517eeeb-3e61-4196-8cec-a39df491396a,1771941290693/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2400%2C2400%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1" data-cy="image-img"/> A newspaper vendor in Mexico Metropolis on Monday arranges entrance pages, which almost all present photos of useless drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, often known as El Mencho. (Quetzalli Nicte-Ha/Reuters) Beneath Sheinbaum's predecessor, president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Mexican authorities had El Mencho of their sights — with the assistance of U.S. intelligence — no less than twice, he stated.

"However [López Obrador] determined towards an operation, understanding that there could be acts of narcoterrorism that we noticed on Sunday," stated Saucedo.

Greater than 250 highway and freeway blockades, typically with flaming autos, flared throughout 20 states on Sunday, Mexican authorities stated.

The state of Jalisco, and its vacationer hotspot of Puerto Vallarta, appeared to have suffered the brunt of violence that was believed to have been a response to El Mencho's seize and loss of life.

Worldwide airways like Air Canada and WestJet cancelled flights to the coastal metropolis within the wake of the disturbances. Flights are anticipated to renew on Tuesday.

The Mexican authorities has despatched about 9,500 troops into Jalisco to pacify the state whereas clearing out the vast majority of blockades in different elements of the nation.

In Puerto Vallarta on Monday, the streets had been quiet and plenty of shops and eating places remained closed. There additionally seemed to be a restricted overt presence of Mexican safety forces patrolling through the day.

'A really complicated board' Saucedo stated it appeared issues had been returning to their regular stability between the CJNG and federal authorities.

"The Jalisco cartel has virtually complete management of the state of Jalisco," stated Saucedo. "For a while now, the Nationwide Guard hasn't combatted the Jalisco cartel in zones the place the Jalisco cartel dominates."

Mora stated the Sheinbaum authorities made a "high-risk guess" by taking out the top of the CJNG, which, as was witnessed on Sunday, has a presence within the majority of the nation.

The loss of life of El Mencho might result in an influence wrestle throughout the cartel whereas additionally tempting rival organizations, which have misplaced territory to the CJNG, to strike whereas sensing weak spot, stated Mora.

This comes whereas the federal government continues to grapple with almost 18 months of violence within the state of Sinaloa, attributable to a fracture throughout the Sinaloa cartel, which has left 1000's useless and disappeared.

Mora stated the Sheinbaum administration can also be trying to pacify Michoacán, El Mencho's house state and the nation's principal avocado-growing area, the place the CJNG has rivals.