Mexican authorities have achieved a major success in their fight against organized crime by capturing drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during a firefight. Oseguera, infamously known as El Mencho, succumbed to his injuries while being transported by helicopter after the operation conducted by the Mexican army, with intelligence support from the United States, who had a $15 million bounty on his head. Unfortunately, the operation resulted in the deaths of seven members of the Mexican National Guard and seven cartel members.

Following the death of El Mencho, the CJNG launched a series of violent attacks in retaliation, resulting in at least three additional casualties, including a prosecutor's office worker, a prison guard, and one suspect. The violence escalated as armed cartel members ignited fires in shops and banks in Guadalajara, blocked roads, and there were reports of gunfire at the airport, which is the third largest in Mexico. This surge in violence reflects the cartel's notorious history of ruthless aggression and indicates that the power vacuum created by El Mencho's death may lead to even more chaos.

The situation has raised concerns not just within Mexico but also internationally, as the CJNG's influence extends beyond its home territory. The violent response to the killing of its leader may provoke further crackdowns by Mexican security forces, leading to an even more volatile environment in the midst of already high tensions between rival cartels and government forces. The continued violence exemplifies the challenges faced in combating drug-related crime in Mexico and raises questions about the effectiveness of current strategies against the scourge of drug trafficking.