El Mencho, the Drug Lord Who Took Drug Trafficking Violence to the Extreme and Challenges the Mexican State

Over the past decade, the name Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” has become synonymous with extreme violence, territorial expansion, and open defiance of the Mexican state. Considered one of the most wanted drug traffickers on the continent, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) transformed the traditional logic of organized crime into a strategy of direct confrontation and show of force.

Unlike former drug lords who operated discreetly, the CJNG built its reputation through spectacular actions: massive road blockades, burning vehicles, coordinated attacks against security forces, and armed propaganda disseminated on social media. Security analysts describe this tactic as a form of “media terror,” designed to instill fear in both rivals and the civilian population.

Under Oseguera Cervantes’s leadership, the criminal group rapidly expanded its presence in various states across the country, vying for control of drug trafficking routes, strategic ports, and border corridors. This expansion was accompanied by frequent clashes with federal forces and other cartels, driving up homicide and disappearance rates in several regions.

The Mexican government and international agencies identify him as responsible for trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl into the United States, as well as money laundering and the systematic use of high-caliber weaponry. Authorities maintain multimillion-dollar rewards for information leading to his capture.

Experts argue that the CJNG phenomenon reflects a new stage in drug trafficking: more fragmented, militarized organizations willing to publicly display their power to gain territorial control. “It’s no longer just about clandestine business, but about visible dominance of public space,” explains a security consultant.

While operations to weaken his structure continue, El Mencho remains a central figure in contemporary organized crime, a symbol of violence that has profoundly affected entire communities and continues to be one of the greatest challenges to Mexican national security.