Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes was a well-known Mexican drug lord. He led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a group notorious for trafficking fentanyl into the United States. Before his life of crime, he served as a police officer but quickly turned to the dark side, building a dangerous empire.
Born in Michoacán in July 1966, Oseguera moved to the U.S. in the 1990s, getting involved in drug trafficking. He faced legal troubles early on, serving three years in California for heroin distribution. After returning to Mexico, he resumed his criminal activities, rising to power in Jalisco.
Oseguera was elusive, often keeping a low profile. Only a handful of pictures of him exist, making his capture even more challenging. He became a top target for U.S. and Mexican authorities, with a $15 million bounty on his head. His death in a military operation in Jalisco has created unrest across the country.
The CJNG, which emerged from the Milenio Cartel, quickly became influential in the drug trade. Public security analyst David Saucedo noted that Oseguera’s rise to power was partly due to his marriage to Rosalinda González Valencia, which strengthened his position. This family connection played a key role in his ascent within the cartel hierarchy.
The CJNG has expanded its reach significantly, involved in the production and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Recent data from the DEA indicates that the cartel is linked to suppliers in China and controls major ports for importing chemicals. It has become a leading supplier of illicit fentanyl to the U.S., making billions in profit.
In 2025, the U.S. designated the CJNG as a terrorist organization. Oseguera was already facing multiple charges in the U.S., including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute drugs for importation. Yet, his death might not cripple the CJNG. The DEA describes the cartel as being structured like a franchise, composed of around 90 smaller organizations. This fragmentation could allow the cartel to adapt and survive even without its leader.
Experts believe that the complex nature of these cartels requires sophisticated strategies to combat them. As Eduardo Guerrero, director of Lantia Intelligence, said, “You’ll need a more complex strategy to weaken and dismember them.” Efforts in the past to eliminate leaders have often led to new ones rising in their place, maintaining the drug flow across the U.S. border.
The situation in Mexico remains volatile. The CJNG is entrenched in power, and without effective measures, its impact on both national and international drug trade is likely to persist.
