During a military operation aimed at capturing the notorious drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as 'El Mencho', in the municipality of Tapalpa, Jalisco, seven people were reported dead, including El Mencho himself. The operation, confirmed by Mexico’s defense ministry, saw El Mencho critically injured, leading to his death while being transported by air to Mexico City. Furthermore, two alleged members of the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) were apprehended during the encounter, which resulted in injuries to three soldiers requiring urgent medical attention.

The U.S. government had previously issued a bounty of 15 million dollars for the capture of the 59-year-old drug lord, affirming El Mencho's reputation as one of the deadliest and most ruthless figures in the drug cartel world. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau expressed the United States' response to the news of his death, which is expected to have significant implications for the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the region.

El Mencho’s demise is seen as a crucial victory for Mexican authorities in their efforts to combat organized crime, especially as the CJNG has been responsible for a surge in violence and drug-related fatalities across the country. The weakening of leadership within powerful cartels like CJNG could potentially impact drug trafficking networks, while also raising concerns about the power vacuum that might emerge, often leading to further violence among rival factions trying to fill the void.