CNN, US DEPARTMENT OF STATE, KING, ANNIE GARCIA, DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, GETTY IMAGES, JIM BECK, TV AZTECA

By Mitchell McCluskey, Gonzalo Zegarra, Avery Schmitz, Sol Amaya, and Mauricio Torres, CNN

(CNN) — Mexican security forces killed the country’s most-wanted cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes in a high-stakes operation on Sunday that set off a spiral of violence and chaos.

Oseguera was the leader and co-founder of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a criminal group that has rapidly expanded its influence in recent years, becoming one of the main traffickers of methamphetamine and fentanyl into the US.

The attack comes at a pivotal moment for Mexico, as President Claudia Sheinbaum faces increasing pressure from her US counterpart Donald Trump to clamp down on drug trafficking.

It also comes just months before the Mexican city of Guadalajara – which was rocked by violence following the drug lord’s capture – is set to host four group-stage matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

How the attack was executed

After years of pursuing Oseguera, Mexican forces on February 20 received a concrete tip about the feared cartel leader’s whereabouts.

Their investigation into Oseguera’s network had led them to a key person who could help access his hideout – a “trusted man” of one of Oseguera’s lovers, according to Mexican Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo.

The following day, the lover left Oseguera’s cabin complex on the outskirts of Tapalpa, but the drug lord remained at the hideout with his security detail.

Mexican special forces operatives and the National Guard’s Special Immediate Reaction Force then swooped into action, putting together a plan and launching a raid within the next 24 hours.

To avoid arousing suspicion, the mission was primarily carried out by ground forces with limited air support from helicopters, Trevilla said.

Several Mexican army units were present in central Tapalpa on Sunday morning, according to CNN’s analysis of social media video.

Sheinbaum said the US shared intelligence that aided the operation but did not provide ground forces.

The Mexican troops established a perimeter around the complex and then closed in. As they did so, they came under fire from Oseguera’s lieutenants.

Using eyewitness video captured during the operation, CNN pinpointed El Mencho’s likely location in a wooded area which shelters several small, gated compounds just over three miles southwest of Tapalpa. The site, a vacation rental known as Cabañas La Loma, is near the Tapalpa Country Club down a long, remote driveway.

Cabañas La Loma was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2015 and again in 2017 for providing “material assistance to the drug trafficking activities of (the Jalisc

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SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) When a drug lord known as "El Mencho died in the town of Tapalpa, Mexico on Sunday during a mission to capture him, flight delays followed.

Six members of the Santa Barbara Puerto Vallarta Sister Cities committee had just spent a week at the El Grullo Health Spa in Jalisco about an hour away.

The driver hired to take them to the airport for their return flight could not pick them up from their hotel due to burning cars and buses in the road.

"We just came to detox for 7 days and now this happened and now we are blessed that we are safe," said Marti Correa de Garcia.

Her husband Gil Garcia said she had planned the trip.

Garcia, who served on the Santa Barbara City Council decades ago, said they were close to the danger and moved to a second hotel.

"Yesterday was a very violet day with helicopters flying over some of them landed and had a confrontation, said Garcia. 

"There was a ton of military all over the place ,checkpoints in rural towns, checkpoints in more populated areas, didn't really piece it together, but we get to the airport and of course all the highways were shut down, so the crew didn't make it until several hours later so the flight was delayed," said Hamilton.

Hamilton made it to Dallas and stayed over before catching another flight home on Monday.

He credits his parents and grandparents for helping his wife care for their children, while he was delayed."

"Stressful 24 hours, I'd say, but yeah, that is kind of it in a nutshell, it was scary to an extent, more uncertain," said Hamilton.

Travel consultant including Susan Do of Montecito Village Travel in Santa Barbara said they keep in touch with their clients.

"So it is really helpful to have a travel agent because we have suppliers who are boots on the ground and we use a destination management company, " said Do "I have a client that actually landed in Mexico City last night and I talked to her today and everything great the tour company down there is taking great care of her." 

Do said insurance is always a good idea, but does'nt cover acts of war.

This is one trip the Sister Cities Committee won't soon forget.

"Hopefuly we will be on our way to Santa Barbara, so hopefully we will see you soon," said Correa de Garcia.

For more travel information visit https://montecitovillagetravel.com

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