El Mencho Raid in Mexico Shows Cartels Outgunning Police With Rocket Launchers

In a bold display of cartel firepower, the Mexican Special Forces raided Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), killing its leader, Ruben "Nemesio" Oseguera Cervantes, who is widely known as El Mencho. El Mencho was one of the world's most wanted drug lords. Rocket launchers and other heavy weapons were seized during the raid.

Ruben "Nemesio" Oseguera Cervantes, 59 years old, was gunned down on Sunday in the Mexican state of Jalisco, alongside six suspected accomplices. CJNG is Mexico's most notorious criminal organisation.

According to a report, the Jalisco group is notorious for heavy violence and its big paramilitary armoury. Four members of Jalisco died at the scene of the shooting, and three others were airlifted to Mexico City, per The Guardian.

Weapons Used In Armed Conflicts Seized by Authorities

Authorities say that heavily armed CJNG operatives were in possession of RPGs, armoured vehicles, and firearms. As such, security forces were forced to exercise caution. The troops were backed by the Mexican Air Force and National Guard, who opened fire as they were met with resistance.

The weapons that were seized following the raid were described by authorities as weapons used in armed conflicts rather than law enforcement, per Fox News.

According to US officials, CJNG operates as a paramilitary group that utilises armed convoys and organised enforcement units to maintain control in disputed areas instead of a typical trafficking operation. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials revealed that the group controlled large armed units to mobilise force swiftly and visibly.

CJNG has a long history of employing combat-style strategies against state forces. In 2015, an attack in Jalisco was tied to CJNG by authorities. RPGs were deployed to shoot down a Mexican military helicopter. This attack highlighted how the cartel is viewed by the Mexican authorities.​

A Jalisco state official later told the Associated Press that a National Guard member was killed in Tapalpa during the operation, six others from the Guard died in Zapopan, a jail guard was killed in a Puerto Vallarta lockup during a prisoner riot, and a Jalisco state prosecutor's office agent was killed in Guadalajara.

According to the defence ministry, 'complementary information' from the US authorities led to the success of the operation.

​The Aftermath: Unrest Across Mexico

El Mencho's death triggered unrest across his territory, highlighting his influence in Mexico, along with other parts of Latin America, forcing airlines from the US and Canada to cancel flights. On Sunday, roadblocks were set up using burning cars, trucks, and buses across Jalisco, Guanajuato, Nayarit, Michoacán, Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas and Colima.​

Furthermore, turmoil was observed in Jalisco's capital, Guadalajara, where passengers fled to safety and sought cover amid fears of retaliation from the side of El Mencho. Vehicles and petrol stations were set on fire by reported armed men in the capital.

A $15 million (£11 million) reward was set by the United States for El Mencho's capture, amid his operations of smuggling vast quantities of cocaine, meth, and fentanyl across the border. Following mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump, senior US officials celebrated El Mencho's killing.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Laundau said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that El Mencho was 'one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins,' and that his death 'is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world.'