- The United States had previously announced a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest
- Following news of his death, violence erupted across multiple Mexican states, with suspected cartel members blocking highways
- Security was tight during the funeral near Guadalajara, a region long considered a stronghold of the CJNG
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho,” was laid to rest on Monday in Jalisco state, days after he was killed during a confrontation with Mexican security forces.
The 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) died from injuries sustained in a late-February operation aimed at capturing him. Mexican special forces engaged his security detail in a firefight, bringing an end to the years-long manhunt for one of the country’s most wanted crime figures, Eko Hot Blog gathered.
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The United States had previously announced a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Following news of his death, violence erupted across multiple Mexican states, with suspected cartel members blocking highways and setting vehicles ablaze in apparent retaliation.
Security was tight during the funeral near Guadalajara, a region long considered a stronghold of the CJNG. Members of Mexico’s National Guard were deployed in large numbers to prevent further unrest.
The ceremony was marked by elaborate floral displays, some reportedly sent anonymously. Among them was a rooster-shaped arrangement, referencing Oseguera’s well-known interest in cockfighting. Local reports indicated that several trucks were needed to transport the tributes to the cemetery.
A procession accompanied the coffin, with musicians performing traditional ranchera songs and narcocorridos often associated with cartel culture.
The casket, gold in colour, was taken to a chapel within the cemetery grounds before being buried after a brief service. Many attendees concealed their identities with face coverings.
Despite the scale of the send-off, media outlets observed that the burial site itself was modest compared to the large mausoleums built for some other high-profile criminal figures.
Under Oseguera’s leadership, the CJNG expanded from its base in Jalisco into a powerful transnational network involved in drug production and trafficking across Mexico and beyond.
His death has been viewed as a significant achievement for President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, which has faced mounting pressure from the United States to intensify efforts against organised crime.
However, analysts warn that the power vacuum within the cartel could lead to internal struggles and a potential spike in violence as factions compete for control.
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