The CIA's intelligence helped Mexican authorities find 'El Mencho'
The CIA provided crucial information that led to the location and subsequent killing of Mexico's most wanted cartel leader, El Mencho, by Mexican special forces.
The article discusses how the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) played a pivotal role in the operation that led to the identification and killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho', leader of the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Mexico. According to a U.S. official and other sources familiar with the operation, the CIA shared significant intelligence regarding El Mencho's whereabouts, which enabled Mexican special forces to carry out their mission effectively. This highlights the cooperation between U.S. agencies and Mexican authorities in tackling drug-related violence and organized crime in the region.
Mexican authorities announced on Monday that they managed to locate El Mencho by tracking one of his associates, who was followed to a meeting with him at his hideout. The operation culminated in his assassination, marking a significant milestone in the fight against drug cartels in Mexico. General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, the Mexican Defense Secretary, confirmed that while elite Mexican military intelligence had been instrumental in the process, U.S. intelligence information played a complementary role in successfully locating El Mencho.
The implications of this event are far-reaching, as it not only represents a major blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel but also shows the ongoing collaboration between the United States and Mexico in combatting drug trafficking and organized crime. Such successful operations could potentially deter other cartel leaders and might change the dynamics of power within the cartel landscape, influencing future strategies against drug-related crimes in Mexico.