Mexican forces seized rocket launchers capable of shooting down planes during Sunday’s operation that killed cartel boss Ruben “Nemesio” Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” This underlines how Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has amassed military firepower over the years.
Authorities previously linked CJNG to a 2015 attack in Jalisco in which cartel gunmen used rocket-propelled grenades to down a Mexican military helicopter — one of the clearest examples of a cartel directly attacking federal forces with battlefield-grade weapons.
The attack marked a turning point in the way Mexican authorities viewed the group’s capabilities.
During Sunday’s raid, officials said security forces were attacked and returned fire, with aircraft and specialized units deployed to carry out the operation. Authorities said troops seized armored vehicles and heavy weapons, equipment more often associated with armed conflict than routine law enforcement.
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Ruben ‘Nemesio’ Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho’, was killed on Sunday during a Mexican operation in Jalisco. (Drug Enforcement Administration)
Mexican Special Forces, with aircraft assistance from Air Force Rapid Response Units and National Guard, took part in the mission, highlighting the scale of violence required to confront the cartel’s senior leaders.
Former US officials have described CJNG as operating more like a paramilitary organization than a traditional smuggling gang, using coordinated roadblocks, armed convoys and structured enforcement wings to assert control in disputed areas.
In previous reporting, former Drug Enforcement Administration officials said the group commanded large numbers of armed men and organized itself so it could deploy rapid and visible violence.
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CJNG is known for its paramilitary operations and structure. (Eduardo Verdugo, File/AP Photo)
CJNG’s tactics include seizing vehicles and staging coordinated attacks in urban areas to show strength and deter rivals or security forces.
Over time, such displays cemented Mexico’s reputation as one of Mexico’s most heavily armed criminal organizations.
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The State Department on Sunday issued a travel warning urging Americans in several Mexican states to take shelter due to “ongoing security operations and related roadblocks and criminal activity,” reflecting the instability that can follow major cartel confrontations.
In recent years, Mexican authorities have increasingly relied on military forces – rather than local police – to confront top cartel figures, while groups like CJNG expanded their reach and arsenals.
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The raid that killed ‘El Mencho’ not only marked the removal of a powerful drug lord, but also another example of how heavily armed cartels can challenge state forces in direct confrontations.
