Mexico news highlights: Mexico deploys 2,500 troops after drug lord El Mencho's killing

Mexico has sent 2,500 troops to strengthen security in the west of the country after the death of top drug lord El Mencho in a military operation, Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said on Monday.

"Around 7,000 troops were stationed in Jalisco, so they are going to be reinforced" with more troops in the area of operation for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which was led by Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera until he was killed Sunday," Trevilla told a press conference.

Mexico news today LIVE: In light of the violence in Mexico after the death of drug lord ‘El Mencho’, multiple countries including Britain, Canada and the United States issued travel warnings.

Australia urged its citizens to “exercise a degree of caution” early Monday, AFP reported. Meanwhile, Washington asked US citizens to "shelter in place until further notice."

Mexico news today LIVE: Drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as ‘El Mencho’, was captured in an operation by Mexican authorities in the western state of Jalisco. He died while being flown to Mexico City.

Oseguera, 59, was an ex-police officer. He later became the shadowy leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), an international criminal enterprise seen as Mexico's most powerful. ‘El Mencho’ had managed to evade arrest for years despite a $15 million bounty on him from the US for any information which would lead to his capture, Reuters reported.

Mexico news today LIVE: A new US military-led task force specializing in intelligence collection on drug cartels aided the Mexican military raid on Sunday which led to the capture and killing of ‘El Mencho’, Reuters cited a US defense official as saying.

The Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel, involving multiple US agencies, was formally launched last month for mapping out networks of drug cartel members on both sides of the US and Mexico border.

Mexico news today LIVE: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said a working group was investigating money laundering to drug cartels, according to Reuters.

This came after the capture and death of drug lord Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, commonly known as ‘El Mencho’.

Mexico news today LIVE: 25 members of the National Guard were killed in Jalisco in six separate attacks after the capture and death of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes or ‘El Mencho’.

Mexico Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said a prison guard, an agent from the state prosecutor’s office and a woman were also killed, the Associated Press reported.

Mexico news today LIVE: Schools were closed across Mexico, even as the country remained on high alert after the death of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera.

Oseguera, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was wounded in a clash with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa, in Jalisco state. He died while being flown to Mexico City, the army said on Sunday, according to AFP.

Members of his cartel went on a violent rampage across parts of the country.

Mexico news today LIVE: Amid the ongoing clashes in Mexico, India has also issued an advisory for all Indian nationals in the Latin American country on Sunday.

As per the statement issued by the Indian embassy in Mexico city, all Indian nationals in the country have been advised to seek shelter and avoid large crowds.

“There are ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, Indian nationals in Jalisco State (areas of Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (areas of Reynosa and other municipalities), areas of Michoacan State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo Leon State should shelter in place until further notice,” said the statement on X.

Mexico news today LIVE: Flight tracking sites showed several planes heading to the city turning back mid route.

Mexican airlines Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB, known as Volaris, and Grupo Viva Aerobus SAB briefly stopped flights to the city, and Air Canada did the same.

The Canadian government also revised its travel advisory for Mexico, urging travellers to exercise a high degree of caution.

Mexico news today LIVE: Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state and Mexico’s second largest city, was almost entirely shut on Sunday as many residents chose to remain indoors out of fear.

Travellers who reached the city’s international airport on Sunday night were informed that operations were running with limited staff due to the sudden wave of violence.

Classes were suspended in several Mexican states, and both local and foreign authorities urged people to stay inside after widespread violence broke out following the army’s killing of a powerful leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Mexico news today LIVE: The US department of state issued a “shelter in place” alert for American citizens in parts of Mexico hit by criminal activity and road blockades after a senior cartel leader was killed by local authorities.

The warning applies to the state of Jalisco, which includes tourist centres such as Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. It also covers parts of the states of Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León.

Mexico news today LIVE: President Claudia Sheinbaum later praised the officials who took part and said the raid did not affect most areas of Mexico, adding that all state governments worked in full coordination.

“We must stay informed and remain calm,” she said in a post on X, while noting that some road blockades are still in place.

She is expected to speak in greater detail about the impact of the strike on Monday during her daily press conference.

Mexico news today LIVE: Classes were suspended across several Mexican states, and authorities in Mexico as well as other countries advised people to remain indoors, after violence spread following the army operation that killed the powerful head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, led one of the fastest expanding criminal groups in Mexico, known for smuggling fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States and carrying out bold attacks against government officials who stood against it.

Mexico news today LIVE: Several high-ranking allies and cartel figures linked to Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes are already in the custody of the United States. Some of these names are -

• Abigael González Valencia - Oseguera’s brother in law
• José González Valencia - leader of the Los Cuinis cartel, which serves as the financial and logistical arm of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
• Cristian “El Guacho” Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa - Oseguera’s son-in-law,
• Ruben “El Menchito” Oseguera González - Oseguera’s son
• Antonio “Tony Montana” Oseguera Cervantes - Oseguera’s older brother
• Érick “El 85” Valencia Salazar - alleged CJNG co-founder and Oseguera’s close advisor
• Rosalinda González Valencia - Oseguera’s wife and sister of cartel leader Abigael González Valencia

Mexico news today LIVE: The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, also known as CJNG, is considered one of Mexico’s most powerful, influential, and ruthless transnational criminal organizations as per the US DEA.

Formed in 2011 from of the remnants of the Sinaloa Cartel-affiliated Milenio Cartel, CJNG has become independent from key members linked by blood ties or marriage to the Gonzalez-Valencia money laundering organization, known as Los Cuinis.

As per the DEA, CJNG “reaps billions of dollars in profit from the manufacture of illegal synthetic drugs." It is also considered one of the main suppliers of cocaine to the US market.

Mexico news today LIVE: In Mexico, widespread clashes and broke out after the military carried out an operation in which drug lord and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, El Mencho, was killed.

Following the outbreak of clashes, schools in Jalisco and Nayarit have been ordered to remain closed on Monday as a temporary precaution.

Mexico news today LIVE: Following the unrest in Mexico, many US and Canadian airlines canceled flights Sunday to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara.

Travel advisories were issued after Mexican officials said drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," was killed in a military operation, which triggered clashes across the state.

United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada and many others cancelled their flights.

Mexico news today LIVE: Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand has expressed concern over the safety of Canadian nationals in Mexico following the ongoing conflict in Jalisco State.

“Canada is closely monitoring the serious and rapidly evolving security situation in Jalisco State, Mexico, including in and around Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta,” the foreign minister wrote on X.

"We are deeply alarmed by reports of violence following a major security operation, including armed clashes, roadblocks, and vehicles set on fire in multiple areas. We are aware that local authorities have issued shelter-in-place orders in some locations, and the situation remains fluid," the statement read further.

“The safety and security of Canadians abroad remain our highest priority," the statement said, adding that an updated travel advisory for Mexico has been uploaded.

As per the latest advisory, Canadians have been advised to "exercise a high degree of caution" while travelling to Mexico.

Mexico news today LIVE: Four high-level soccer matches were postponed after the Mexican army killed the leader of powerful drug cartel CJNG on Sunday.

Two top-tier games - Queretaro vs. Juarez FC in the men's tournament and Chivas vs. America in the women's league - were postponed and two in the second division were called off. Mexico is also due to host the FIFA 2026 World Cup along with the US and Canada.

This postponement comes after Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, "El Mencho," who led the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, was killed during a military raid in Tapalpa.

Mexico news today LIVE: El Mencho had been indicted in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia several times, with the most recent one being on April 5, 2022 in which, he was charged with conspiracy and distribution of controlled substances (methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl) for the purpose of illegal importation into the United States and use of firearms during and in connection with drug trafficking offenses.

Mexico news today LIVE: Reacting to the killing of drug lord El Mencho in Mexico, former US ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau called it a great achievement.

“I’ve just been informed that Mexican security forces have killed “El Mencho,” one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins. This is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world,” he wrote on X.

“The good guys are stronger than the bad guys./Los buenos somos más que los malos,” he added.

Mexico news today LIVE: Mexico is keen to show the killing of drug lord Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, to the United States amid repeated pressure over doing more to crackdown on drug cartels, reported news agency AP. After the operation in which Mencho was killed, both Mexico and the US said that it was carried with collaboration on intel.

Mexico news today LIVE: After Mexico carried out a military operation against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, killing its leader El Mencho, US President Donald Trump made a cryptic post on Truth Social.

“We’re Winning too much, it’s just not fair! President DJT,” he wrote on X. While POTUS did not make a mention of Mexico, several have claimed his post comes due to the operation against El Mencho. Since taking office in 2025, Trump has placed strict measures and declared a national emergency along the southern border - the US-Mexico border - due to the influx of drugs and other narcotics.

Trump has also threatened tariffs on Mexico if it failed to crackdown on cartels in the country.

However, Trump's post also echoes his previous ones made regarding Team USA's win at the Winter Olympics 2026.

"LOTS OF WINNING!!!" Trump wrote as the US Ice Hockey team won the gold medal against Canada.

Mexico news today LIVE: As Mexico carried out a massive security operation on Sunday against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the United States has said the operation was done based on intelligence provided by Washington. The raid, conducted by Mexican Special Forces, resulted in the killing of El Mencho, infamous drug lord and the leader of CJNG.

Taking to social media platform X, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that while the operation was carried out on the instructions of the Mexican government, the Trump administration did provide intelligence support.

Mexican authorities killed drug lord Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, commonly known as 'El Mencho,' during an operation designed to capture him in the western state of Jalisco.

As per the statement issued by the Mexican defence ministry, the Oseguera Cervantes was wounded critically during the operation and died during the air lift to Mexico City. Following his death, clashes and widespread violence erupted across the country.