The White House has confirmed that American intelligence support played a key role in the Mexican military operation that killed feared drug kingpin Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho.”
SUNTV Global Channel gathered that the high-stakes operation took place in Tapalpa, located in Jalisco, where Mexican security forces launched a targeted strike against the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
According to U.S. officials, intelligence assistance from Washington helped Mexican forces track and neutralise the notorious trafficker, who had long been one of the most wanted criminals in both Mexico and the United States.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the operation also resulted in the deaths of three cartel members, while three others were injured and two suspects were arrested.
She described El Mencho as a major supplier of fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States, calling him one of the most dangerous figures in the global drug trade.
Within hours of the announcement, unrest spread across multiple Mexican states as cartel loyalists reportedly set vehicles ablaze and blocked major highways — a common retaliation tactic.
Disturbances were recorded in several areas, including parts of Guadalajara, where residents were urged to stay indoors and public transport services were temporarily suspended.
The U.S. government also issued a security advisory warning American citizens in affected regions to shelter in place amid ongoing operations and potential cartel violence.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly pressed Mexico to intensify its fight against drug cartels, previously designating the CJNG as a foreign terrorist organisation.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected any form of foreign military intervention, insisting that security cooperation must respect national sovereignty.
Security analysts warn that while El Mencho’s death is a major blow, past cartel takedowns in Mexico have often triggered short-term violence and internal power struggles rather than immediate collapse of criminal networks.
The CJNG remains one of the most dominant and violent cartels, with deep involvement in drug trafficking, extortion, and armed territorial control across Mexico.
Stay with SUNTV Global Channel for continuing updates on this developing international security story.
