Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called on the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) to explain why media outlets were granted access to the property where Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was reportedly killed in a military operation on February 22nd. The incident has raised questions about security protocols and information control following the high-profile takedown of the leader of the Jalisco Modern Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Sheinbaum addressed the issue Tuesday, March 3rd, during her daily press conference, stating that the FGR needs to clarify the circumstances surrounding the media’s access to the scene. “The Fiscalía has to explain it,” she said, adding that the operation was conducted by the Secretariat of National Defense and that the FGR immediately took control of the site. “They have to say why access was allowed to the place, they are the ones who safeguard it and they are the ones who have to answer for everyone’s information why access was allowed.”
Sheinbaum emphasized that the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office was not involved in securing the area around the Tapalpa Country Club, where ‘El Mencho’ was reportedly killed. The President’s comments came in response to a reporter’s question about the situation, which mirrored a similar incident at the Rancho Izaguirre property in Jalisco, where young people were allegedly being forcibly recruited by organized crime.
Ernestina Godoy, the current head of the FGR, has not made any public statements or held press conferences since assuming the position in December 2025.
Media Gains Unrestricted Access to ‘El Mencho’s’ Hideout
News organizations began sharing details from inside the cabin where ‘El Mencho’ allegedly stayed with his inner circle as early as February 23rd, before he attempted to flee during the military raid. Reports indicated that authorities found notes detailing the distribution of firearms to cartel leaders, letters to Catholic saints, payroll records from various states, and information regarding the organization’s earnings.
Some media broadcasts showed journalists moving freely through the property, opening and closing doors, and examining different rooms to gather more information about the final hours of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes. The unrestricted access has prompted scrutiny regarding the handling of evidence and potential security breaches.
‘El Mencho’ Buried in Guadalajara
The family of ‘El Mencho’ was able to claim his remains approximately one week after his death and transported the body from Mexico City to Guadalajara for a funeral and burial. The body of the most powerful drug trafficker in Mexico was buried in a gold-colored casket.
Hundreds of floral arrangements were sent to the funeral, including some shaped like fighting roosters, a reference to ‘El Mencho’s’ nickname, ‘El Señor de los Gallos’ (The Lord of the Roosters). A significant military operation was deployed at the Recinto de la Paz cemetery in Zapopan, Jalisco, to secure the area and reportedly prevent unauthorized access.
