MEXICO CITY: At least 25 National Guard members were killed by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel after the military operation that led to drug lord Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera´s death, Mexico´s security secretary said Monday.
Omar Garcia Harfuch added that a prison guard, a member of the state prosecutor´s office and 30 members of Oseguera´s criminal organization were also killed in the unrest that followed the capture of Mexico´s most-wanted man on Sunday.
Oseguera, who was wounded in a clash with soldiers in Jalisco state, died on Sunday while being flown to Mexico City. Mexico Defence Minister Ricardo Trevilla said on Monday that information leading to Oseguera’s capture and death stemmed from a romantic partner of the crime boss. The US had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
His death triggered waves of violence across Mexico, as cartel operatives blocked roads, burned cars and pursued retaliatory attacks. El Mencho’s death triggered “27 cowardly attacks against authorities in Jalisco,” Harfuch said at the president’s daily press conference on Monday, adding that 30 cartel operatives were killed as well as one bystander. At least 70 people were arrested in seven states.
“We are closely monitoring for any kind of reaction or restructuring within the cartel that could lead to violence,” he said. US President Donald Trump on Monday called on Mexico to boost its efforts targeting drug cartels. “Mexico must step up their effort on Cartels and Drugs!” he wrote in a social media post.
