The passing of Nemesio Rubén Osegera Cervantes, the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), marks the retirement of a generation tied to the rise of criminal gangs that now control a significant portion of Mexico's territory. This event underscores not only the power that these cartels continue to wield but also their open defiance against government authority. The cartels operate with a level of violence and coordination that resembles a civil war rather than the activities of an outlaw group.

In conjunction with the CJNG's operations, a recent coordinated crackdown involved Mexican armed forces and U.S. intelligence agencies, showcasing the complexities of the drug war. The newly established Joint Interagency Task Force Against Cartels made its operational debut during the hunt for El Mencho. This task force's emergence indicates a shift towards more collaborative efforts in combating organized crime, although the effectiveness of such measures remains to be seen.

In retaliation for El Mencho's death, the CJNG launched a wave of attacks characterized by a diverse methodology, including the arson of federal banks, road blockades, and vehicle burnings. Reports detail hundreds of attacks across fifteen states and sixty municipalities, emphasizing the cartels’ capacity to instigate widespread chaos and their significant influence over local territories. Such developments point to a precarious situation in Mexico, where local and federal authorities grapple with the implications of cartel-led violence on societal stability and governance.