The era of Mexico's most elusive kingpin has ended in a hail of gunfire, but the true shockwaves are only beginning to ripple across the North American continent.Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes, the head of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), or Jalisco New Generation Cartel in English, was killed during a clash between the Mexican army and CJNG members on Sunday, 22 February.
El Mencho's death does not signify peace; rather, it has prompted a chilling mobilisation of one of the world's most sophisticated paramilitary organisations. It has also thrust the CJNG into the spotlight.
Erick Valencia Salazar ('El 85') founded CJNG in 2009 as the paramilitary wing of the Sinaloa Cartel. It was initially designed to protect Sinaloa's interests and to combat rivals such as Los Zetas. However, it quickly evolved into a dominant force that challenged the Sinaloa Cartel's long-standing hegemony.
Under El Mencho's strategic and often brutal leadership, the group expanded its influence from the state of Jalisco to nearly every corner of Mexico. The organisation is now estimated to be worth over £15.4 billion ($20 billion), funding a private army that rivals national forces.
This meteoric growth was fuelled by a diversification of criminal enterprises, moving beyond narcotics into fuel theft, extortion, and human trafficking. El Mencho's leadership was defined by a corporate-style expansion that prioritised territorial control and the elimination of any local opposition.
By the time of his death, the CJNG had established a presence in over 20 Mexican states, with strongholds in Jalisco, Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, and Guanajuato, among others. CJNG also controls major ports like Veracruz, Manzanillo, and Lázaro Cárdenas, overseeing the export and import of illegal goods,the Global Guardianreported.
When Mexican social media influencer El Pirata de Culiacán” was ended after mocking CJNG thugs boss El Mencho in a video.pic.twitter.com/sc2VLgPe2S
What set the CJNG apart from its predecessors was a blatant and theatrical use of violence that served as a psychological weapon against the state. The group gained international notoriety during the 2015 siege of Guadalajara, where they used dozens of narco-blockades and shot down a military helicopter.
The cartel was also involved in the 2018 assassination attempt of former state prosecutor and labour secretary, Luis Carlos Nájera, which led to a shootout in Guadalajara. In 2019, CJNG members killed 19 members of its rival Los Viagras amid their fight over avocado and lime farmer extortion.
In 2020, CJNG ambushed Mexico City's police chief, Omar García Harfuch. The encounter resulted in multiple deaths. This level of aggression demonstrated that the cartel was not merely hiding from the law, but was actively seeking to overwhelm it.
Source: International Business Times UK
