El Mencho was located through tracking a romantic partner, Mexico’s defense secretary says
After years of pursuing cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, Mexican forces obtained a concrete tip that lead to the operation that resulted in the death of the feared drug lord in western Mexico Sunday.
On February 20, the investigation into the network of El Mencho, the leader and co-founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, led to a key person with access to his hideout. That person was the romantic partner of one of El Mencho’s most trusted workers, Mexican Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo explained at a press conference.
On Saturday, February 21, the woman left the cabin complex on the outskirts of Tapalpa, but intelligence indicated that the drug lord remained at the hideout with his security detail, Trevilla said.
Mexico’s Air Force and the National Guard’s Special Immediate Reaction Force quickly began designing the operation before El Mencho’s whereabouts could be lost again.
The US provided support by sharing intelligence, rather than supplying ground forces, President Claudia Sheinbaum added.
The mission was carried out by ground components; an airmobile force, with helicopters that did not reach Jalisco so as not to arouse suspicion, and an air support force.
After establishing a perimeter, the forces began pursuing El Mencho, and exchanged fire with his lieutenants. Eight cartel members were killed at the scene and two soldiers were wounded.
As the security forces closed in on El Mencho, the drug lord and several of his deputies fled to a nearby wooded area.
“El Mencho left, leaving behind a group with a large quantity of weapons; it was a very violent attack carried out by the organized crime group. The military forces repelled the attack,” Trevilla explained.
Special Forces personnel located El Mencho in forest undergrowth.
