International
El Mencho: The Rise of Mexico’s Most Notorious Drug Lord
El Mencho, the elusive leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, has transformed the group into one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations, posing a significant threat to both Mexico and the United States.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was the co-founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which has emerged as Mexico’s most formidable criminal organization in recent years. Though less internationally renowned than the Sinaloa cartel, the CJNG is notorious within Mexico for its extreme violence and military-style operations. Based in Jalisco, the cartel has engaged in aggressive attacks against the military, including shooting down helicopters and employing drone technology for explosive assaults. El Mencho, a former police officer, has been involved in drug trafficking since the 1990s, previously serving a prison sentence in the U.S. for heroin distribution. After returning to Mexico, he collaborated with drug lord Ignacio Coronel Villareal until the formation of the CJNG around 2007, following a split from the Sinaloa cartel. The CJNG’s influence extends across all 50 U.S. states, making it a significant supplier of cocaine, methamphetamines, and fentanyl, earning billions in revenue. The cartel’s increasing power has posed a national security threat to both U.S. and Mexican authorities. While El Mencho has remained largely elusive and prefers operating from the shadows, he has faced multiple indictments in the United States, including charges related to drug trafficking and directing a continuing criminal enterprise.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
