MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sought to quell fears Monday after violence erupted in 20 Mexican states over the killing of the world’s most wanted cartel kingpin: Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.”
“The country is at peace,” Sheinbaum told reporters at her daily news conference in Mexico City. “It’s calm.”
Schools were closed Monday in some states and some flights remained suspended at the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta in the state of Jalisco, where Oseguera lived and was killed at his mountain hideout.
Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s top security official, said 25 members of the National Guard died Sunday in attacks by organized crime in Jalisco state. It was not immediately clear how the soldiers were killed.
Mexican Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo revealed new details of the special forces operation targeting Oseguera, the founder and leader of the notorious Jalisco New Generation cartel.
Trevilla said that in recent days, Mexican intelligence officers identified where Oseguera lived by tracking the movements of his girlfriend.
As troops approached Oseguera’s compound near the town of Tapalpa on Sunday, cartel operatives opened fire in what Trevilla described as “a very violent attack.”
A gun battle broke out between soldiers and cartel henchmen, and Oseguera escaped. Troops established a perimeter around the compound, and later discovered the drug lord hiding in some nearby woods.
He and two of his bodyguards were seriously injured. The three were transported by helicopter to the nearby city of Morelia, but died en route, Trevilla said.
An arsenal of guns, rocket launchers and grenades was found at Oseguera’s compound, two hours south of the city of Guadalajara.
The military operation triggered retaliatory attacks throughout Jalisco and in other states where the cartel has a presence, with gangsters blocking roads with burning cars, torching some gas stations and storefronts, and opening fire on security personnel. It is a common technique for cartels to try to sow chaos in an attempt to disrupt military actions.
Officials said the violence has eased for now, and Sheinbaum said she expects schools and flights to resume by Tuesday.
“We awoke today with no blockades,” Sheinbaum said. “All activity has practically been reestablished.”
The government has sent thousands of soldiers to Jalisco to reinforce security there, and is ready, officials say, to combat any additional violence as the top remaining leaders of the cartel jockey for power. “We’re prepared for this,” Harfuch said.
Trevilla said that while U.S. intelligence played a role in the operation, the identification of Oseguera’s hideout and the planning and execution of the attack were the work of the Mexican officials.
“In this case there was information provided by the United States,” Sheinbauam said. “But the entire operation from its planning [stage] was the responsibility of federal forces. “
Said Trevilla: “Mexico has solid institutions … Trust in your government.”
Linthicum reported from New York and McDonnell from Mexico City.
