El Mencho: Who is the world-wanted leader of the Jalisco Cartel?
Who is Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes “El Mencho”?
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes is considered one of the most dangerous and violent drug lords in the world. Born in 1966 in the Mexican state of Michoacán, he rose from a humble avocado farmer to become the founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which is now considered one of the most powerful and widespread criminal organizations in the world, surpassing even the notorious Sinaloa Cartel in some regions.
Historical context: The rise of the Jalisco Cartel in a power vacuum
El Mencho and the Jalisco Cartel emerged as powerful forces in the aftermath of the Mexican Drug War, which began in 2006. This war led to the dismantling and arrest of the major traditional cartel leaders, such as the Sinaloa Cartel under Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. This fragmentation created a massive power vacuum, which El Mencho exploited with both cunning and brutality. The Jalisco Cartel began as an armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel known as Los Mata Zetas (The Zetas Killers), initially intended to fight the rival Los Zetas Cartel. However, by 2011, El Mencho had declared its independence, beginning to build its own empire through excessive violence and calculated expansion.
Importance and impact: A transnational criminal network
Under El Mencho's leadership, the Jalisco Cartel expanded its activities beyond trafficking traditional drugs like cocaine and marijuana, becoming a leader in the production and trafficking of deadly synthetic drugs, most notably fentanyl and methamphetamine. This exacerbated the opioid crisis in the United States, making El Mencho a prime target for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Domestically, the cartel exercises near-total control over large swaths of Mexico, employing military tactics including explosive drones and armored vehicles, and readily targeting government officials, security forces, and civilians alike. Internationally, the cartel's influence has spread across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia, making it a threat to global security.
International manhunt and an uncertain future
After El Chapo's arrest and extradition to the United States, El Mencho became the number one wanted man by Mexican and U.S. authorities. The U.S. State Department offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his capture. Despite intensive efforts, El Mencho remained at large, partly due to the extensive protection network he had built in his stronghold of Jalisco state, which included corrupt officials and local communities economically dependent on him.
In recent years, numerous rumors have circulated about his deteriorating health, with unconfirmed reports suggesting he suffers from chronic kidney disease, prompting him to build private hospitals in rural areas to receive treatment away from the authorities' watchful eyes. His capture or death would be a major blow to the cartel, but it could also trigger a bloody succession war among his deputies, potentially exacerbating the wave of violence in Mexico as splinter factions and rival cartels vie to fill the power vacuum he would leave behind.
