Mexico's Jalisco descends into fire, unrest following cartel leader’s death

Violence continues to grip the Mexican state of Jalisco following an operation on February 22 targeting Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), who died in custody shortly after being captured by special forces.

Despite reassurances from local authorities that the situation had stabilized, Mexican media report that fires involving cars and businesses persisted overnight on February 24. Thick plumes of smoke were visible across the state capital, Guadalajara, while firefighters and rescue teams responded in multiple districts, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

In other municipalities, public institutions were temporarily closed and schools canceled classes. Several local and federal highways were blocked as vehicles were set ablaze, disrupting travel across the region.

In response to the unrest, Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office has launched 57 investigations, including 37 in Jalisco.

Since its founding in 2009, the CJNG has rapidly grown into one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations. The cartel is responsible for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine into the United States. It has also conducted attacks on military personnel and was the first organized crime group in the country to deploy landmines and drop explosives from drones.

Better known as El Mencho, Cervantes , Mexico's most wanted man, was seriously injured in a firefight between his bodyguards and the military commandos deployed to capture him.

He died while the military was transporting him from the town of Tapalpa, in Jalisco state, to the capital, Mexico City.