A fragile calm has settled over Mexico after days of unrest sparked by the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in a military operation on Sunday. The violence, which followed the cartel leader’s death, underscores the ongoing challenges Mexico faces in combating organized crime and maintaining stability.
Road blockades are being cleared, burned vehicles are being removed, and most schools are expected to reopen on Wednesday, according to officials.
“Yesterday we had seven road blockades – all of which have been lifted. Some burned vehicles remain, but they are being removed today. I have spoken with the governor of Jalisco, and all flights are operating as usual at the Guadalajara airport, and the situation in Puerto Vallarta is gradually normalizing,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said at her daily press conference.
“Our goal is security and peace, and that is what we are working towards now,” she added.
Swedes who have been in contact with DN have been able to leave the most affected areas. The Foreign Ministry, however, urges Swedish citizens in Mexico to remain vigilant, follow the instructions of local authorities, and stay informed about developments using verified sources.
Many in Mexico remain shaken by the extent of the disruption caused by “El Mencho’s” allies in the Jalisco Cartel, which spread to approximately 20 states. The full cost of the damage, which lasted for almost two days, is still being assessed.
Concerns are now growing about a potential power struggle within the criminal underworld. A power vacuum often leads to increased violence in criminal environments – a pattern seen in the state of Sinaloa, where internal conflicts have raged for years following the fall of Sinaloa Cartel leaders “El Chapo” Guzman and “El Mayo” Zambada.
The United States is calling for increased efforts against the cartels. Donald Trump on Tuesday called for intensified efforts to combat drug smuggling – and the Mexican army’s raid on “El Mencho” reportedly occurred after pressure – or at least “consultation” – from the U.S.
Mexico’s government has no plans to launch a new “war on drugs,” President Sheinbaum said. The president reminded reporters on Tuesday that the war on drug cartels proclaimed by President Felipe Caldéron in 2006 involved a large mobilization of the army, leading to dramatically increased violence, a quadrupling of the death toll, corruption at high levels of government, and widespread human rights abuses.
“They made a complete mistake for 13 years,” Sheinbaum asserted, pointing out that her government’s combination of preventative social programs and law enforcement appears to be yielding results: the number of murders fell from just over 26,700 in 2024 to 20,600 in 2025.
But Trump supporter Elon Musk isn’t convinced – he claims Sheinbaum is taking orders from the cartels.
“She’s just saying what her bosses in the cartel tell her to say. The penalty for disobedience down there is a bit worse than a ‘development plan’,” he wrote on his social network X.
Sheinbaum on Tuesday threatened to take Musk to court in response.
“We are considering whether to take legal action. Our government lawyers are looking into it right now. This talk of a ‘cartel government’ is completely absurd. But what is important to me is what the people think,” the president said.
Musk had not responded as of this writing.
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