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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
Respite seems not to have come the way of Mexico as crisis in the country remains unabated following the killing of Mexico’s most wanted man, Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, otherwise known as El Mencho and eight of his members on Sunday during a military operation in the state of Jalisco.
El Mencho, it would be recalled, was the leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (JNGC) in Mexico, one of Mexico’s most rapidly expanding criminal networks.
For a long time, the drug lord had been on the run from the Mexican authorities over his notorious activities.
His death triggered chaos in the country, with vehicles set ablaze across the state, including in the tourist hot spots of Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.
The 59-year-old, according to reports, was infamous for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States, while masterminding notorious attacks against those in government cycles.
El Mencho’s killing on Sunday during a shootout by the military who wanted to arrest him in his home state of Jalisco, has led to a wave of violence across the country, with some parts of the country plunged into a state of chaos.
“The retaliation was instantaneous. As news of the operation spread, a coordinated wave of violence exploded through the country, reaching at least 20 of Mexico’s 32 States,” Aljazeera reported.
It also stated that across Mexico, suspected members of organised groups attacked buses and businesses, and erected fiery roadblocks.
“For those caught in the crossfire, the speed of the chaos was a reminder of the cartels’ reach,” it stated.
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A resident of Zitacuaro, Michoacan, one of the Mexican states who spoke to the news medium on condition of anonymity, disclosed that “the fear that remains in society is overwhelming.”
The resident further said: “That’s when you realise the immense power these organisations have, because they can collapse a city in a matter of minutes.”
The situation has however left tourists from across the globe stranded, following the suspension of flights to Puerto Vallarta.
Reacting to the development, the United States Department called on American nationals in parts of Mexico to seek shelter and remain in residences or hotels.
Born in the state of Michoacán, Mexico, El Mencho was said to have risen through cartel ranks, having been deported from the United States in the early 1990s.
He went on to become notorious for sensational acts of violence and his aggressive leadership of the JNGC.
“Under his leadership, the US government accused El Mencho of overseeing multiple homicides against Mexican law enforcement officers and rival trafficking groups.
“El Mencho’s JNGC was also allegedly involved in the assassination attempts of Mexican government officials. The cartel is known for trafficking huge quantities of fentanyl and other drugs into the United States.
“Before his death, the US Department of State had offered a $15 million reward for information on the cartel leader,” ITV News Central, a British television news service for the East and West Midlands also wrote.
