Over 24 hours after El Mencho’s killing, Mexico is stabilising but tensions remain. Violence, travel disruptions and advisories persist in key regions. Security forces are on high alert as fears of cartel turf wars grow following El Tuli’s killing and uncertainty over CJNG’s next leader.

Flights disrupted, army on the road, fear of turf wars: What's happening in Mexico 24 hours after El Mencho's killing

Mexico has dealt one of its most significant blows to organised crime in recent years. In a large-scale military offensive ordered by President Claudia Sheinbaum, security forces targeted the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) on Sunday (February 23), killing its top leader, Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as El Mencho. Authorities said Oseguera Cervantes was wounded during the operation and later died while being transported by air to Mexico City. His death, however, was quickly followed by coordinated retaliation from the cartel, unleashing unrest across eight states.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gunmen set up roadblocks, torched vehicles, and clashed with security personnel. Schools were closed, and flights to and from Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara were suspended amid security concerns. Reports of violence emerged from Jalisco, Michoacan, Guanajuato, Colima, Nayarit, Tamaulipas, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon.&nbsp;El Mencho, who had a $15 million US bounty on his head, co-founded CJNG and oversaw its transformation into one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organisations. While his killing is being viewed as a strategic victory for the Sheinbaum administration, officials and analysts warn it could spark a new cycle of bloodshed. His death places him among the highest-profile cartel leaders eliminated since the capture of key figures from the Sinaloa Cartel, including Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman and Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, both currently held in the United States.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/el-mencho-death-killing-narcos-unlawful-fascist-said-mexican-president-sheinbaum-once-what-changed-in-the-hugs-not-bullets-policy-1771851161127">El Mencho death: Killing narcos ‘unlawful, fascist’, said Mexican President Sheinbaum once. What changed in the ‘hugs, not bullets’ policy?</a>&nbsp;Following El Chapo’s 2016 arrest, leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel reportedly shifted to his sons, Ivan Guzman Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, often referred to as “Los Chapitos.” The US Drug Enforcement Administration has accused them of expanding and modernizing cartel operations. Joaquin Guzman Lopez was arrested in Texas in July 2024 after arriving alongside Zambada. His detention came months after Ovidio Guzman Lopez was taken into custody in January 2023. In December 2025, Joaquin Guzman Lopez pleaded guilty in a US court to major drug trafficking offenses, admitting involvement in coordinating the production and shipment of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl into the United States. Prosecutors alleged he helped lure Zambada onto a flight to the US as part of a deal with authorities.&nbsp;Despite these setbacks, the Sinaloa Cartel remains active, with Ivan and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar reportedly leading its operations and facing $10 million rewards each. El Mencho’s killing may also influence Mexico’s diplomatic standing. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly pressed Mexico to intensify its campaign against cartels, at times threatening trade measures and floating the possibility of US military action inside Mexican territory. Against that backdrop, American officials have described the operation as a significant development for regional security.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-putin-strikes-odesa-zaporizhzhia-regions-1771855190503/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-putin-strikes-odesa-zaporizhzhia-regions-1771855190503/embed</a>&nbsp;Still, experts warn that dismantling cartel leadership often leads to violent reprisals. Vanda Felbab-Brown of the Brookings Institution has warned that criminal groups typically respond with targeted assassinations, bombings, and direct attacks on political and security figures. Cartels have previously demonstrated such tactics, including a 2020 assassination attempt on Omar Garcia Harfuch, now Mexico’s Secretary of Security under Sheinbaum.&nbsp;Analysts say retaliation may also involve paralyzing infrastructure, blocking highways, disrupting trade corridors, and attacking police or military facilities. Sunday’s unrest, marked by widespread blockades and arson, suggests that such tactics are already unfolding. While the operation underscores Mexico’s renewed push against organized crime, it also signals a potentially volatile period ahead as cartels regroup and attempt to reassert control.

From El Chapo to El Mencho: Mexico’s violence enters another chapter in its drug war history

Mexico has dealt one of its most significant blows to organised crime in recent years. In a large-scale military offensive ordered by President Claudia Sheinbaum, security forces targeted the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) on Sunday (February 23), killing its top leader, Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as El Mencho. Authorities said Oseguera Cervantes was wounded during the operation and later died while being transported by air to Mexico City. His death, however, was quickly followed by coordinated retaliation from the cartel, unleashing unrest across eight states. Gunmen set up roadblocks, torched vehicles, and clashed with security personnel. Schools were closed, and flights to and from Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara were suspended amid security concerns. Reports of violence emerged from Jalisco, Michoacan, Guanajuato, Colima, Nayarit, Tamaulipas, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon. El Mencho, who had a $15 million US bounty on his head, co-founded CJNG and oversaw its transformation into one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organisations. While his killing is being viewed as a strategic victory for the Sheinbaum administration, officials and analysts warn it could spark a new cycle of bloodshed. His death places him among the highest-profile cartel leaders eliminated since the capture of key figures from the Sinaloa Cartel, including Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman and Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, both currently held in the United States. Also Read: El Mencho death: Killing narcos ‘unlawful, fascist’, said Mexican President Sheinbaum once. What changed in the ‘hugs, not bullets’ policy? Following El Chapo’s 2016 arrest, leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel reportedly shifted to his sons, Ivan Guzman Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, often referred to as “Los Chapitos.” The US Drug Enforcement Administration has accused them of expanding and modernizing cartel operations. Joaquin Guzman Lopez was arrested in Texas in July 2024 after arriving alongside Zambada. His detention came months after Ovidio Guzman Lopez was taken into custody in January 2023. In December 2025, Joaquin Guzman Lopez pleaded guilty in a US court to major drug trafficking offenses, admitting involvement in coordinating the production and shipment of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl into the United States. Prosecutors alleged he helped lure Zambada onto a flight to the US as part of a deal with authorities. Despite these setbacks, the Sinaloa Cartel remains active, with Ivan and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar reportedly leading its operations and facing $10 million rewards each. El Mencho’s killing may also influence Mexico’s diplomatic standing. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly pressed Mexico to intensify its campaign against cartels, at times threatening trade measures and floating the possibility of US military action inside Mexican territory. Against that backdrop, American officials have described the operation as a significant development for regional security. https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-putin-strikes-odesa-zaporizhzhia-regions-1771855190503/embed Still, experts warn that dismantling cartel leadership often leads to violent reprisals. Vanda Felbab-Brown of the Brookings Institution has warned that criminal groups typically respond with targeted assassinations, bombings, and direct attacks on political and security figures. Cartels have previously demonstrated such tactics, including a 2020 assassination attempt on Omar Garcia Harfuch, now Mexico’s Secretary of Security under Sheinbaum. Analysts say retaliation may also involve paralyzing infrastructure, blocking highways, disrupting trade corridors, and attacking police or military facilities. Sunday’s unrest, marked by widespread blockades and arson, suggests that such tactics are already unfolding. While the operation underscores Mexico’s renewed push against organized crime, it also signals a potentially volatile period ahead as cartels regroup and attempt to reassert control.

Mexico kills Jalisco New Generation Cartel chief El Mencho in a major raid, triggering cartel retaliation and unrest across eight states amid US pressure

Mexico is currently under mayhem as members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the most powerful and feared criminal organisations in the country, unleashed a wave of violence across 20 Mexican states. The members have torched businesses and erected burning blockades in retaliation for the killing of their leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as "El Mencho". He died in custody on Sunday (Feb 22).&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-apex-court-strikes-down-swath-of-trump-s-tariffs-but-president-says-he-has-backup-plan-here-are-his-options-1771602994991">US apex court strikes down swath of Trump’s tariffs, but president says he has a ‘backup plan’. Here are his options</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;El Mencho, Mexico's most wanted man, was seriously injured in a firefight between his bodyguards and the military commandos deployed to capture him. As per the defence ministry, at least six of &nbsp;El Mencho's security guards were also killed, and three members of the Mexican military were injured. As news of El Mencho's death spread, members of his cartel launched attacks in many towns and cities where the CJGN is active.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🇲🇽 Heavily armed members of a Mexican drug cartel stormed a gas station and set it on fire. <a href="https://t.co/3u7sQ88N6q">pic.twitter.com/3u7sQ88N6q</a>&mdash; Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) <a href="https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/2025858497783472135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">A cartel leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes aka “El Mencho was killed in Mexico, and his men flooded the streets, hospitals, airports, and other public places, causing mayhem. 🇲🇽 <a href="https://t.co/9ZV0GI7Qrg">pic.twitter.com/9ZV0GI7Qrg</a>&mdash; GIDI (@Gidi_Traffic) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gidi_Traffic/status/2025828416633627080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/trump-to-attack-iran-soon-from-usss-abraham-lincoln-to-gerald-ford-us-deploys-these-warships-are-heading-towards-middle-east-nuclear-deal-1771605910151">Trump to attack Iran soon? From USS Abraham Lincoln to Gerald Ford US deploys - these warships are heading towards Middle East</a>&nbsp;Videos shared by the locals on the internet showed plumes of smoke rising above several towns and cities, including the beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist place.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-a-claim-to-overshadow-epstein-files-russia-demands-concrete-data-on-alexei-navalny-poisoning-allegation-putin-1771428712351">‘A claim to overshadow Epstein Files’: Russia demands ‘concrete data’ on Alexei Navalny poisoning allegation</a>&nbsp;As per the local media, the tensions escalated when a man came running into the airport to seek shelter after they had heard gunshots. In many towns, streets were deserted as local authorities told residents to seek shelter in their homes. Videos showed black smoke billowing from burning cars in several neighbourhoods, with one tourist describing the scene as looking "like a war zone".

Violence erupted across Mexico after CJNG leader El Mencho died in custody, triggering arson, gunfire and blockades in multiple states, including Puerto Vallarta, as authorities imposed curfews and heightened security.

Mexico is currently under mayhem as members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the most powerful and feared criminal organisations in the country, unleashed a wave of violence across 20 Mexican states. The members have torched businesses and erected burning blockades in retaliation for the killing of their leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as "El Mencho". He died in custody on Sunday (Feb 22). Also read: US apex court strikes down swath of Trump’s tariffs, but president says he has a ‘backup plan’. Here are his options El Mencho, Mexico's most wanted man, was seriously injured in a firefight between his bodyguards and the military commandos deployed to capture him. As per the defence ministry, at least six of El Mencho's security guards were also killed, and three members of the Mexican military were injured. As news of El Mencho's death spread, members of his cartel launched attacks in many towns and cities where the CJGN is active.

Violence erupted across Mexico after CJNG leader El Mencho died in custody, triggering arson, gunfire and blockades in multiple states, including Puerto Vallarta, as authorities imposed curfews and heightened security.

WATCH | Buildings ablaze, gunshots, curfew for residents - violence erupts in Mexico after drug cartel leader dies

After the Mexican Army killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, members of his CJNG drug cartel went on a rampage, shooting indiscriminately and destroying public property. El Mencho, who headed the CJNG, or Jalisco New Generation Cartel, died while being airlifted to Mexico City after being wounded in an army raid in the town of Tapalpa in Jalisco state. Three other cartel members were killed.The aftermath of the killing is shocking. It showed how cartel members have become a parallel military and security apparatus in Mexico, having been allowed to grow unchecked over the past three decades. They are capable of massive violence and control significant tracts of territory in Mexico.But nothing grows in isolation. The Mexican drug cartels’ rise stems from a combination of historical, economic, social, and institutional factors. Here are 11 reasons why Mexican drug cartels are now so powerful that they challenge state authority.&nbsp;<h2>Corruption: Drug cartels have systematically infiltrated government and institutions</h2>The cartels bribe everyone in the chain of command in government and security, including, but not limited to, the police, military, judges, politicians, and federal and local officials, in return for protection, intelligence, and impunity.One of the top political parties, the PRI, has had ties to cartels, leading to an implicit pact in which cartels paid for government tolerance of their operations.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/el-mencho-net-worth-nemesio-oseguera-jalisco-cartel-1771826166286">El Mencho net worth: How rich was Jalisco Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera?</a>Over the years, democratic transitions disrupted the arrangement, which only resulted in wider corruption.&nbsp;Awash with vast drug profits, cartels often bribed officials, giving them the ultimatum “plata o plomo”, meaning silver or lead, a choice between money or bullets. Corruption thus became the core enabler of drug operations.<h2>An atmosphere of fear and intimidation with extreme violence</h2>Over the years, cartel brutality has been on full display through assassinations, beheadings, and massacres. Often, they display the dead bodies of rivals or informants. Targets have included officials, journalists, political candidates and civilians.This has stopped resistance against cartels by the political establishment. The cartels have enforced silence and control vast populations and territories. Due to fear, local communities stop cooperating with authorities.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-tracking-el-mencho-key-territories-dominated-by-the-notorious-mexican-drug-lord-1771834498983">‘Tracking El Mencho’: Key territories dominated by the notorious Mexican drug lord</a><h2>Agriculture: The lesser-known but important reason for cartel support and impunity</h2>The basic ingredients of several drugs come from cash crops such as opium poppy and marijuana. Some regions in states like Sinaloa, Guerrero, and Michoacán, which also experience rural poverty, are suitable for large-scale cultivation of lucrative illicit crops.Agricultural labour is also used in producing precursors for synthetic drugs. Together, farming communities receive steady revenue streams. This provides employment to local youth, farmers and labourers, who then show loyalty to the cartels.<h2>A parallel security force: Drug cartels have military and paramilitary-level capabilities</h2>Cartels are well-armed, possessing military-grade weapons, often smuggled from the US. They move in armoured vehicles and deploy drones and improvised explosive devices. Their members are combat-trained.The group called Los Zetas was, in fact, set up by former special forces defectors. The CJNG and Sinaloa cartels have vast private armies, filled with Mexican military deserters and mercenaries.The cartels practically act like a military, fiercely defending territory and launching offensives against both rivals and government security forces, often employing insurgent-like tactics.<h2>The cartels run lands where state power is weak or absent</h2>Drug cartels often run protection rackets in areas where state power is weak, resolving disputes and even offering social services that make them heroes in the eyes of locals. They also engage in extortion, levy taxes, and set up parallel governance structures.Drugs are not the only source of revenue for the cartels now. Their business has now expanded into kidnapping, human smuggling and trafficking. They also control resources, for instance avocado production and export in Michoacán.<h2>Drug cartels enjoy ground support from local communities</h2>In marginalised rural and urban areas of Mexico, the cartels have gained support by providing jobs. Roles in farming, smuggling and enforcement provide economic opportunities for locals in impoverished regions. The so-called “narco-culture” that permeates Mexico's music, fashion, and even religious iconography has normalised cartels as part of daily life for many, fostering ideological allegiance to them.With a lack of alternatives, young people often turn to the cartels for jobs, eventually turning whole communities into bases for cartel operations.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-cartel-boss-el-mencho-killed-amid-widespread-violence-1771833603710/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-cartel-boss-el-mencho-killed-amid-widespread-violence-1771833603710/embed</a><h2>Industrial diversification and economic power of drug cartels</h2>Cartel drug and non-drug profits are estimated to be billions of dollars per year, driven by demand from the US and globally. Their operations have become sophisticated, with labs for synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and fentanyl now accounting for significant portions of production. The cartels have extensive money-laundering networks, legitimate businesses used as fronts or investments, and complex supply chains.This creates economic dominance, making cartels major employers and influencers of local economies in Mexico.<h2>Alliances and networks among cartels and governments</h2>Mexican cartels often operate through tactical alliances among themselves or through international suppliers. China, for instance, is a major supplier of precursor chemicals for synthetic drugs such as fentanyl. Cartels like the CJNG have adopted a franchise model, allowing expansion of operations while maintaining centralised control.<h2>Political funding and influence</h2>Most drug cartels finance political campaigns, particularly at local and municipal levels, to install friendly officials. They often manipulate elections through donations, threats, or assassinations of candidates. Drug cartels have penetrated political elites to secure favourable policies, contracts, or inaction against criminal activities.<h2>The never-ending US drug demand</h2>The US is one of the main destination countries for drugs. Drug cartels thrive given the continuing massive demand for both traditional and synthetic drugs. US efforts helped disrupt Colombian cartels in the 1990s. This resulted in drug routes shifting to Mexico.<h2>State weakness and political transitions</h2>The decline of the major party, the PRI, created power vacuums in Mexico. Over the years, neoliberal economic policies have led to increased inequality.These factors, along with rural displacement and weak institutions, pushed people towards illicit economies led by drug cartels.These elements interact: profits fund corruption and militarisation, which in turn enable more profits and control. The violence unleashed in Mexico after El Mencho's killing exemplifies the deeply entrenched nature of that control.&nbsp;

El Mencho’s death has reignited the focus on Mexico’s powerful drug cartels. Corruption, violence, US drug demand and weak institutions are among the factors that enabled cartels to rival the state and security forces.

After the Mexican Army killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, members of his CJNG drug cartel went on a rampage, shooting indiscriminately and destroying public property. El Mencho, who headed the CJNG, or Jalisco New Generation Cartel, died while being airlifted to Mexico City after being wounded in an army raid in the town of Tapalpa in Jalisco state. Three other cartel members were killed. The aftermath of the killing is shocking. It showed how cartel members have become a parallel military and security apparatus in Mexico, having been allowed to grow unchecked over the past three decades. They are capable of massive violence and control significant tracts of territory in Mexico. But nothing grows in isolation. The Mexican drug cartels’ rise stems from a combination of historical, economic, social, and institutional factors. Here are 11 reasons why Mexican drug cartels are now so powerful that they challenge state authority. Corruption: Drug cartels have systematically infiltrated government and institutions The cartels bribe everyone in the chain of command in government and security, including, but not limited to, the police, military, judges, politicians, and federal and local officials, in return for protection, intelligence, and impunity. One of the top political parties, the PRI, has had ties to cartels, leading to an implicit pact in which cartels paid for government tolerance of their operations. Also read: El Mencho net worth: How rich was Jalisco Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera? Over the years, democratic transitions disrupted the arrangement, which only resulted in wider corruption. Awash with vast drug profits, cartels often bribed officials, giving them the ultimatum “plata o plomo”, meaning silver or lead, a choice between money or bullets. Corruption thus became the core enabler of drug operations. An atmosphere of fear and intimidation with extreme violence Over the years, cartel brutality has been on full display through assassinations, beheadings, and massacres. Often, they display the dead bodies of rivals or informants. Targets have included officials, journalists, political candidates and civilians. This has stopped resistance against cartels by the political establishment. The cartels have enforced silence and control vast populations and territories. Due to fear, local communities stop cooperating with authorities. Also read: ‘Tracking El Mencho’: Key territories dominated by the notorious Mexican drug lord Agriculture: The lesser-known but important reason for cartel support and impunity The basic ingredients of several drugs come from cash crops such as opium poppy and marijuana. Some regions in states like Sinaloa, Guerrero, and Michoacán, which also experience rural poverty, are suitable for large-scale cultivation of lucrative illicit crops. Agricultural labour is also used in producing precursors for synthetic drugs. Together, farming communities receive steady revenue streams. This provides employment to local youth, farmers and labourers, who then show loyalty to the cartels. A parallel security force: Drug cartels have military and paramilitary-level capabilities Cartels are well-armed, possessing military-grade weapons, often smuggled from the US. They move in armoured vehicles and deploy drones and improvised explosive devices. Their members are combat-trained. The group called Los Zetas was, in fact, set up by former special forces defectors. The CJNG and Sinaloa cartels have vast private armies, filled with Mexican military deserters and mercenaries. The cartels practically act like a military, fiercely defending territory and launching offensives against both rivals and government security forces, often employing insurgent-like tactics. The cartels run lands where state power is weak or absent Drug cartels often run protection rackets in areas where state power is weak, resolving disputes and even offering social services that make them heroes in the eyes of locals. They also engage in extortion, levy taxes, and set up parallel governance structures. Drugs are not the only source of revenue for the cartels now. Their business has now expanded into kidnapping, human smuggling and trafficking. They also control resources, for instance avocado production and export in Michoacán. Drug cartels enjoy ground support from local communities In marginalised rural and urban areas of Mexico, the cartels have gained support by providing jobs. Roles in farming, smuggling and enforcement provide economic opportunities for locals in impoverished regions. The so-called “narco-culture” that permeates Mexico's music, fashion, and even religious iconography has normalised cartels as part of daily life for many, fostering ideological allegiance to them. With a lack of alternatives, young people often turn to the cartels for jobs, eventually turning whole communities into bases for cartel operations. https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-cartel-boss-el-mencho-killed-amid-widespread-violence-1771833603710/embed Industrial diversification and economic power of drug cartels Cartel drug and non-drug profits are estimated to be billions of dollars per year, driven by demand from the US and globally. Their operations have become sophisticated, with labs for synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and fentanyl now accounting for significant portions of production. The cartels have extensive money-laundering networks, legitimate businesses used as fronts or investments, and complex supply chains. This creates economic dominance, making cartels major employers and influencers of local economies in Mexico. Alliances and networks among cartels and governments Mexican cartels often operate through tactical alliances among themselves or through international suppliers. China, for instance, is a major supplier of precursor chemicals for synthetic drugs such as fentanyl. Cartels like the CJNG have adopted a franchise model, allowing expansion of operations while maintaining centralised control. Political funding and influence Most drug cartels finance political campaigns, particularly at local and municipal levels, to install friendly officials. They often manipulate elections through donations, threats, or assassinations of candidates. Drug cartels have penetrated political elites to secure favourable policies, contracts, or inaction against criminal activities. The never-ending US drug demand The US is one of the main destination countries for drugs. Drug cartels thrive given the continuing massive demand for both traditional and synthetic drugs. US efforts helped disrupt Colombian cartels in the 1990s. This resulted in drug routes shifting to Mexico. State weakness and political transitions The decline of the major party, the PRI, created power vacuums in Mexico. Over the years, neoliberal economic policies have led to increased inequality. These factors, along with rural displacement and weak institutions, pushed people towards illicit economies led by drug cartels. These elements interact: profits fund corruption and militarisation, which in turn enable more profits and control. The violence unleashed in Mexico after El Mencho's killing exemplifies the deeply entrenched nature of that control.

El Mencho’s death has reignited the focus on Mexico’s powerful drug cartels. Corruption, violence, US drug demand and weak institutions are among the factors that enabled cartels to rival the state and security forces.

El Mencho's death brings Mexico to a halt: 11 reasons why drug cartels became bigger than govt, security forces

Mexican drug lord El Mencho's killing has put a spotlight on his family members and possible successors. Interestingly, one of his daughters, named Jessica Johanna Oseguera is a US citizen and is in line of succession, according to reports. El Mencho, who was the founder of notorious and most powerful cartel Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed on Feb 22 in an operation by Mexican Army. The US said that it assisted the operation by providing intelligence support. The US State Department had offered a $15 million reward for his capture.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-cartel-boss-el-mencho-killed-highways-and-cities-under-attack-1771823691663/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-cartel-boss-el-mencho-killed-highways-and-cities-under-attack-1771823691663/embed</a>&nbsp;<h2>Who are his family members?</h2>El Mencho was married to a woman named Rosalinda González Valencia. The couple reportedly married in 1996. Rosalinda is a member of the influential Valencia family, which founded Los Cuinis, the financial and money-laundering arm of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). She is often referred to as "La Jefa". Several reports indicate that the couple legally separated in September 2018. They have three children together – Rubén Oseguera González, Jessica Johanna Oseguera, and Laisha Oseguera. Rosalinda González Valencia was arrested several times and currently maintains a low profile. She was last arrested in November 2021 in Zapopan, Jalisco, by the Mexican military. However, she was released in 2025 after a judge granted her early release for “good behavior.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/vehicles-torched-roads-blocked-gunmen-on-streets-mexico-on-the-boil-after-drug-kingpin-el-mencho-s-killing-what-s-happening-1771818387904">Vehicles torched, roads blocked, gunmen on streets: Mexico on the boil after drug kingpin El Mencho's killing — What's happening</a><h2>Who will succeed El Mencho?</h2>Son of El Mencho - Rubén Oseguera González, also known as El Menchito is serving a life sentence in a US federal prison. His youngest daughter Laisha Michelle Oseguera González is considered a person of interest by authorities but maintains a lower profile compared to her siblings. 39-year-old Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, also known as La Negra, is considered a probable successor.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/was-trump-involved-in-killing-of-mexico-s-drug-lord-el-mencho-who-was-he-and-what-we-know-about-his-drug-cartel-1771821396561">Was Trump involved in killing of Mexico's drug lord El Mencho? Who was he and what we know about his drug cartel</a>&nbsp;Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez holds US and Mexico citizenship and was born in San Francisco, California. But she later moved to Mexico and studied at a university in Guadalajara. In February 2020, she was arrested in Washington, DC as she ariived to attend her brother's criminal hearing. She was charged with five counts of “Engaging in Transactions or Dealings in Properties of a Designated Foreign Person” as a member of Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion. She pleaded guilty to all five counts. She was sentenced to 30 months in prison but released early in 2022, after serving only 25 months. Her exact location is not known.&nbsp;Others in line of succession are El Mencho's stepson Juan Carlos Valencia González. He is often described as second-in-command of the cartel. Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán (""): Another trusted right-hand man known as El Sapo is also considered a formidable candidate for leadership.<h2>Violence after El Mencho's killing</h2>Violence has erupted in the country after his killing as members of his cartel took to streets with guns. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has appealed for calm. After the security raid, El Mencho's cartel went on the rampage. Cartel members blocked the streets and were seen carrying guns. Videos on social media showed them torching dozens of buses, cars, and commercial trucks. Some reports also said that supermarkets, gas stations, and at least 18 Banco del Bienestar (state-owned bank) branches were also torched. Reports said at least seven National Guard members were killed.&nbsp;

After El Mencho’s killing, focus has shifted to his family and possible successors. Daughter Jessica Johanna Oseguera, a US citizen, is seen as a key contender, while his son El Menchito is jailed. Violence has surged across Mexico as CJNG members retaliate.

Mexican drug lord El Mencho's killing has put a spotlight on his family members and possible successors. Interestingly, one of his daughters, named Jessica Johanna Oseguera is a US citizen and is in line of succession, according to reports. El Mencho, who was the founder of notorious and most powerful cartel Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed on Feb 22 in an operation by Mexican Army. The US said that it assisted the operation by providing intelligence support. The US State Department had offered a $15 million reward for his capture. https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-cartel-boss-el-mencho-killed-highways-and-cities-under-attack-1771823691663/embed Who are his family members? El Mencho was married to a woman named Rosalinda González Valencia. The couple reportedly married in 1996. Rosalinda is a member of the influential Valencia family, which founded Los Cuinis, the financial and money-laundering arm of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). She is often referred to as "La Jefa". Several reports indicate that the couple legally separated in September 2018. They have three children together – Rubén Oseguera González, Jessica Johanna Oseguera, and Laisha Oseguera. Rosalinda González Valencia was arrested several times and currently maintains a low profile. She was last arrested in November 2021 in Zapopan, Jalisco, by the Mexican military. However, she was released in 2025 after a judge granted her early release for “good behavior.” Also Read: Vehicles torched, roads blocked, gunmen on streets: Mexico on the boil after drug kingpin El Mencho's killing — What's happening Who will succeed El Mencho? Son of El Mencho - Rubén Oseguera González, also known as El Menchito is serving a life sentence in a US federal prison. His youngest daughter Laisha Michelle Oseguera González is considered a person of interest by authorities but maintains a lower profile compared to her siblings. 39-year-old Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, also known as La Negra, is considered a probable successor. Also Read: Was Trump involved in killing of Mexico's drug lord El Mencho? Who was he and what we know about his drug cartel Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez holds US and Mexico citizenship and was born in San Francisco, California. But she later moved to Mexico and studied at a university in Guadalajara. In February 2020, she was arrested in Washington, DC as she ariived to attend her brother's criminal hearing. She was charged with five counts of “Engaging in Transactions or Dealings in Properties of a Designated Foreign Person” as a member of Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion. She pleaded guilty to all five counts. She was sentenced to 30 months in prison but released early in 2022, after serving only 25 months. Her exact location is not known. Others in line of succession are El Mencho's stepson Juan Carlos Valencia González. He is often described as second-in-command of the cartel. Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán (""): Another trusted right-hand man known as El Sapo is also considered a formidable candidate for leadership. Violence after El Mencho's killing Violence has erupted in the country after his killing as members of his cartel took to streets with guns. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has appealed for calm. After the security raid, El Mencho's cartel went on the rampage. Cartel members blocked the streets and were seen carrying guns. Videos on social media showed them torching dozens of buses, cars, and commercial trucks. Some reports also said that supermarkets, gas stations, and at least 18 Banco del Bienestar (state-owned bank) branches were also torched. Reports said at least seven National Guard members were killed.

After El Mencho’s killing, focus has shifted to his family and possible successors. Daughter Jessica Johanna Oseguera, a US citizen, is seen as a key contender, while his son El Menchito is jailed. Violence has surged across Mexico as CJNG members retaliate.

El Mencho’s US-born daughter can be drug cartel's new leader: Here's all about her and other possible successors

CJNG founder El Mencho was killed in a Mexican Army raid with US intelligence support, triggering violence across Mexico. The cartel leader, once carrying a $15 million US bounty, built a global drug empire supplying fentanyl and meth to America. President Sheinbaum urged calm

Was Trump involved in killing of Mexico's drug lord El Mencho? Who was he and what we know about his drug cartel

Mexico’s most wanted cartel boss El Mencho was killed in a military raid, triggering widespread violence across multiple states. CJNG members torched vehicles and attacked forces. India, US and Canada issued advisories, while flights and schools were disrupted 

Vehicles torched, roads blocked, gunmen on streets: Mexico on the boil after drug kingpin El Mencho's killing — What's happening

Mexican security forces captured on Thursday drug cartel leader Ovidio Guzman, a son of jailed kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, triggering a wave of violence ahead of a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden next week.

Mexico captures son of 'El Chapo' sparking wave of violence

Mexican authorities have arrested yet another suspect with the accusations of being involved in the double murder of a French restaurateur and his business partner.

The arrested man is a 39-year-old who has been accused of killing the 45-year-old dual national Baptiste Lormand and his Mexican associate Luis Orozco last year while attempting to steal an expensive wine.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-detains-30-marines-in-collection-with-disappearances-of-several-people-in-2014-377313">Mexico detains 30 Marines in collection with disappearances of several people in 2014&nbsp;</a>

In November 2020, the two men were found dead on the south side of the national capital, two days after Lormand was last spotted in Polanco, where he ran a restaurant of his own.

Authorities had earlier, too, reported the arrest of four suspects in connection to the double murder.

The case of double murder had attracted massive protests in the country, as people marched on roads demanding justice and condemning the alarming increase in violent attacks.

Mexico recorded more than 34,500 murders last year, of which 1,268 had taken place in Mexico City itself.

Mexican authorities have arrested yet another suspect with the accusations of being involved in the double murder of a French restaurateur and his business partner.

Mexican authorities have arrested yet another suspect with the accusations of being involved in the double murder of a French restaurateur and his business partner. The arrested man is a 39-year-old who has been accused of killing the 45-year-old dual national Baptiste Lormand and his Mexican associate Luis Orozco last year while attempting to steal an expensive wine. Also read | Mexico detains 30 Marines in collection with disappearances of several people in 2014 In November 2020, the two men were found dead on the south side of the national capital, two days after Lormand was last spotted in Polanco, where he ran a restaurant of his own. Authorities had earlier, too, reported the arrest of four suspects in connection to the double murder. The case of double murder had attracted massive protests in the country, as people marched on roads demanding justice and condemning the alarming increase in violent attacks. Mexico recorded more than 34,500 murders last year, of which 1,268 had taken place in Mexico City itself.

Mexico: Another man arrested in case of double murder

Mexican authorities found 14 dead bodies on the side of a road in the northern Zacatecas state, wrapped in blankets and tied with adhesive tape.

The northern Zacatecas state is an area that usually has high gang-related violence. This incident, too, is being assumed to be a gang-related incident, according to the initial investigations.

Zacatecas public prosecutor, Francisco Murillo told the press that four of the bodies had been identified and were from Juan Aldama, a town 150 kilometers (90 miles) to the north of Fresnillo, where they were found.

“They are people who disappeared from that region a few days ago,” said Murillo.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-city-police-chief-shot-and-injured-in-assassination-attempt-308868">Also read:&nbsp;Mexico City police chief shot and injured in assassination attempt</a>

The are of Zacatecas is one of the main drug trafficking route into the United States, and is, according to Mexican officials, being fought over by three local criminal gangs of Mexico, including&nbsp;Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation.

Earlier on Wednesday, a gang fight broke between two rival groups in, which resulted in death of 16 people.

While the coronavirus has shut down the rest of the world, the gang-related violence in Mexico has not slowed down. Authorities are, they claim, trying their best to come up with strategies to shut down the gang rivalry and violence.

Mexican authorities found 14 dead bodies on the side of a road in the northern Zacatecas state, wrapped in blankets and tied with adhesive tape. The northern Zacatecas state is an area that usually has high gang-related violence.

Mexican authorities found 14 dead bodies on the side of a road in the northern Zacatecas state, wrapped in blankets and tied with adhesive tape. The northern Zacatecas state is an area that usually has high gang-related violence. This incident, too, is being assumed to be a gang-related incident, according to the initial investigations. Zacatecas public prosecutor, Francisco Murillo told the press that four of the bodies had been identified and were from Juan Aldama, a town 150 kilometers (90 miles) to the north of Fresnillo, where they were found. “They are people who disappeared from that region a few days ago,” said Murillo. Also read: Mexico City police chief shot and injured in assassination attempt The are of Zacatecas is one of the main drug trafficking route into the United States, and is, according to Mexican officials, being fought over by three local criminal gangs of Mexico, including Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation. Earlier on Wednesday, a gang fight broke between two rival groups in, which resulted in death of 16 people. While the coronavirus has shut down the rest of the world, the gang-related violence in Mexico has not slowed down. Authorities are, they claim, trying their best to come up with strategies to shut down the gang rivalry and violence.

Gang war: 14 bodies found by roadside in Mexico

*By Angelica Duran-Martinez

Nearly 34,000 people were murdered in Mexico last year, according to new government statistics - the deadliest year since modern record-keeping began.

Of all the challenges facing Mexico's new president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, curbing violence may be the biggest.

Mexico has seen ever-growing bloodshed since 2006, when President Felipe Calderon deployed the Mexican armed forces to fight drug cartels.

Rather than reduce violence, the government’s crackdown actually increased conflicts between and among cartels, according to my research on criminal violence and numerous other studies. It also led to widespread military abuses of power against civilians.

More than 250,000 people have been murdered and 35,000 have disappeared since the beginning of Mexico’s drug war.

Lopez Obrador said on the campaign trail that Mexico must “consider multiple alternatives to achieve the pacification of the country.”

He pitched several possibilities to reduce crime without using law enforcement, including granting amnesty to low-level criminals, negotiating with crime bosses to dismantle their syndicates and confronting the human rights violations committed by soldiers, police and public officials.

Finding the truth

Some of those ideas - particularly the controversial notion of negotiating with organized crime - have faded away since Lopez Obrador took office on December 1.

So far, his administration has put more emphasis on traditional law-and-order policies.

In December, he ordered the creation of a Mexican national guard to fight organized crime. Though human rights advocates and security experts fear this approach will repeat past fatal mistakes of militarizing Mexican law enforcement, the lower house of Congress recently approved the measure. It will likely be approved in the Senate.

Lopez Obrador has followed through on one of his campaign proposals for "pacifying" Mexico, though.

Days after being sworn in, the president established a truth commission to investigate the unsolved disappearance of 43 students from the Ayotzinapa teachers college in the southern Mexican town of Iguala in 2014.

Five years after their disappearance, the truth of this infamous case remains elusive.

According to the government of former president Enrique Pena Nieto, the crime was a local affair. Students en route to a protest march in Mexico City were detained by the Iguala police, and, at the mayor's order, handed over to a local gang, which killed them and burned their bodies.

Investigators from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights could not corroborate this story. In the burn pit identified in 2016, they found no physical evidence of the missing students.

In a scathing final report, investigators said that authorities had ignored crucial evidence that the army and federal police were involved in the students’ disappearance.

A truth commission will help Mexicans "understand the truth and do justice to the young people of Ayotzinapa," Lopez Obrador said on Twitter in announcing its creation.

The Ayotzinapa truth commission will put extraordinary resources and personnel on the case and give the victims’ families and perpetrators a voice in the process - neither of which police investigations in Mexico typically do.

Transitional justice

Truth commissions aim to create a collective, participatory narrative of human rights atrocities that not only exposes the perpetrators but also identifies the conditions that facilitated violence. They are a central component of transitional justice, an approach to helping countries recover after civil war or dictatorship.

Countries like Argentina, Guatemala, Brazil and Peru all used truth commissions to reckon with the toll of their bloody dictatorships and wars and give reparations to victims. South Africa famously used a truth commission to document the horrific human rights violations committed under apartheid.

Mexico's situation is different: It has a criminal violence problem, not a civil war.

But my research indicates this pacification strategy may have some promise.

Recent studies suggest that truth commissions can actually help prevent future violence. Because they identify perpetrators, who then face punishment for their crimes, truth commissions can both take criminals off the street and deter others from committing crime.

Holding public officials responsible for their corruption would be a major achievement in Mexico.

As the US federal trial of drug trafficker Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman illustrates, corruption penetrates the highest levels of Mexican government.

Since the beginning of its drug war, in 2006, Mexican citizens have filed 10,000 complaints of abuse against soldiers, including accusations of extrajudicial killings and torture. The government has done little to look into those allegations. Nor has it actively investigated most of the murders of 97 Mexican journalists since then.

If an Ayotzinapa truth commission enjoys the full support of federal authorities - which is not a guarantee, given the corruption it will almost certainly uncover - it could restore some faith in Mexico’s justice system. Currently, 97 percent of all crimes go unpunished.

Focusing on truth may also help the country better understand - and therefore address - the root causes of violence in Mexico.

Truth commissions, however, will not immediately solve an incredibly complex security crisis.

As Amnesty International has said, the Mexican government cannot create a truth commission to investigate every mass atrocity of the drug war. Mexico also needs a functioning justice system.

Pardoning low level crimes

Another transitional justice tool the Lopez Obrador government has proposed is amnesty to non-violent, low-level drug offenders.

The president's chief-of-staff, Olga Sanchez Cordero, says that pardoning people convicted and jailed for growing, processing, transporting or using drugs - particularly women and offenders from marginalized populations - would stop the cycle of violence in Mexico and encourage petty criminals to disarm.

Mexico's amnesty proposal is not unlike the First Step Act recently passed in the United States, which will result in the early release of about 2,600 prisoners, many of them drug offenders.

Mexico’s prison population has been steadily rising for years.

Between 2000 and 2016, it increased 40 per cent, from 154,765 inmates to 217,868 inmates, according to the Institute of Criminal Policy Research. The number of people jailed in Mexico for drug offenders has also increased markedly.

As in the United States, most prisoners in Mexico come from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds, according to the Collective for the Study of Drugs and Law, a non-profit research group.

What lies ahead

Should Lopez Obrador's amnesty idea become policy, it would surely be controversial.

Victims of violence in Ciudad Juarez were outraged when, in August 2018, President-elect Lopez Obrador said residents must be "willing to forgive".

Many caught in the crossfire of Mexico's drug war say justice and punishment should come before forgiveness.

But violence in Mexico is so pervasive that, in my opinion, the country must consider every option that might stanch the bleeding.

Truth commissions and amnesties to low level crimes will not pacify the country immediately - but they may bring some of the truth and justice Mexicans so desperately need.

*(Angelica Duran-Martinez is Assistant Professor of Political Science at University of Massachusetts Lowell)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/mexico-is-bleeding-can-its-new-president-stop-the-violence-109490">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

*By Angelica Duran-Martinez Nearly 34,000 people were murdered in Mexico last year, according to new government statistics - the deadliest year since modern record-keeping began.

*By Angelica Duran-Martinez Nearly 34,000 people were murdered in Mexico last year, according to new government statistics - the deadliest year since modern record-keeping began. Of all the challenges facing Mexico's new president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, curbing violence may be the biggest. Mexico has seen ever-growing bloodshed since 2006, when President Felipe Calderon deployed the Mexican armed forces to fight drug cartels. Rather than reduce violence, the government’s crackdown actually increased conflicts between and among cartels, according to my research on criminal violence and numerous other studies. It also led to widespread military abuses of power against civilians. More than 250,000 people have been murdered and 35,000 have disappeared since the beginning of Mexico’s drug war. Lopez Obrador said on the campaign trail that Mexico must “consider multiple alternatives to achieve the pacification of the country.” He pitched several possibilities to reduce crime without using law enforcement, including granting amnesty to low-level criminals, negotiating with crime bosses to dismantle their syndicates and confronting the human rights violations committed by soldiers, police and public officials. Finding the truth Some of those ideas - particularly the controversial notion of negotiating with organized crime - have faded away since Lopez Obrador took office on December 1. So far, his administration has put more emphasis on traditional law-and-order policies. In December, he ordered the creation of a Mexican national guard to fight organized crime. Though human rights advocates and security experts fear this approach will repeat past fatal mistakes of militarizing Mexican law enforcement, the lower house of Congress recently approved the measure. It will likely be approved in the Senate. Lopez Obrador has followed through on one of his campaign proposals for "pacifying" Mexico, though. Days after being sworn in, the president established a truth commission to investigate the unsolved disappearance of 43 students from the Ayotzinapa teachers college in the southern Mexican town of Iguala in 2014. Five years after their disappearance, the truth of this infamous case remains elusive. According to the government of former president Enrique Pena Nieto, the crime was a local affair. Students en route to a protest march in Mexico City were detained by the Iguala police, and, at the mayor's order, handed over to a local gang, which killed them and burned their bodies. Investigators from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights could not corroborate this story. In the burn pit identified in 2016, they found no physical evidence of the missing students. In a scathing final report, investigators said that authorities had ignored crucial evidence that the army and federal police were involved in the students’ disappearance. A truth commission will help Mexicans "understand the truth and do justice to the young people of Ayotzinapa," Lopez Obrador said on Twitter in announcing its creation. The Ayotzinapa truth commission will put extraordinary resources and personnel on the case and give the victims’ families and perpetrators a voice in the process - neither of which police investigations in Mexico typically do. Transitional justice Truth commissions aim to create a collective, participatory narrative of human rights atrocities that not only exposes the perpetrators but also identifies the conditions that facilitated violence. They are a central component of transitional justice, an approach to helping countries recover after civil war or dictatorship. Countries like Argentina, Guatemala, Brazil and Peru all used truth commissions to reckon with the toll of their bloody dictatorships and wars and give reparations to victims. South Africa famously used a truth commission to document the horrific human rights violations committed under apartheid. Mexico's situation is different: It has a criminal violence problem, not a civil war. But my research indicates this pacification strategy may have some promise. Recent studies suggest that truth commissions can actually help prevent future violence. Because they identify perpetrators, who then face punishment for their crimes, truth commissions can both take criminals off the street and deter others from committing crime. Holding public officials responsible for their corruption would be a major achievement in Mexico. As the US federal trial of drug trafficker Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman illustrates, corruption penetrates the highest levels of Mexican government. Since the beginning of its drug war, in 2006, Mexican citizens have filed 10,000 complaints of abuse against soldiers, including accusations of extrajudicial killings and torture. The government has done little to look into those allegations. Nor has it actively investigated most of the murders of 97 Mexican journalists since then. If an Ayotzinapa truth commission enjoys the full support of federal authorities - which is not a guarantee, given the corruption it will almost certainly uncover - it could restore some faith in Mexico’s justice system. Currently, 97 percent of all crimes go unpunished. Focusing on truth may also help the country better understand - and therefore address - the root causes of violence in Mexico. Truth commissions, however, will not immediately solve an incredibly complex security crisis. As Amnesty International has said, the Mexican government cannot create a truth commission to investigate every mass atrocity of the drug war. Mexico also needs a functioning justice system. Pardoning low level crimes Another transitional justice tool the Lopez Obrador government has proposed is amnesty to non-violent, low-level drug offenders. The president's chief-of-staff, Olga Sanchez Cordero, says that pardoning people convicted and jailed for growing, processing, transporting or using drugs - particularly women and offenders from marginalized populations - would stop the cycle of violence in Mexico and encourage petty criminals to disarm. Mexico's amnesty proposal is not unlike the First Step Act recently passed in the United States, which will result in the early release of about 2,600 prisoners, many of them drug offenders. Mexico’s prison population has been steadily rising for years. Between 2000 and 2016, it increased 40 per cent, from 154,765 inmates to 217,868 inmates, according to the Institute of Criminal Policy Research. The number of people jailed in Mexico for drug offenders has also increased markedly. As in the United States, most prisoners in Mexico come from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds, according to the Collective for the Study of Drugs and Law, a non-profit research group. What lies ahead Should Lopez Obrador's amnesty idea become policy, it would surely be controversial. Victims of violence in Ciudad Juarez were outraged when, in August 2018, President-elect Lopez Obrador said residents must be "willing to forgive". Many caught in the crossfire of Mexico's drug war say justice and punishment should come before forgiveness. But violence in Mexico is so pervasive that, in my opinion, the country must consider every option that might stanch the bleeding. Truth commissions and amnesties to low level crimes will not pacify the country immediately - but they may bring some of the truth and justice Mexicans so desperately need. *(Angelica Duran-Martinez is Assistant Professor of Political Science at University of Massachusetts Lowell) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Mexico is bleeding. Can its new President stop the violence?

A Mexican journalist was shot dead in front of his wife and two adult children outside his home in a crime-ridden eastern state where 18 other reporters have been murdered since 2010. 
 
Pedro Tamayo Rosas, a 45-year-old who covered the police beat for two online dailies in Veracruz state, was killed late Wednesday in the town of Tierra Blanca, prosecutors said. 
 
The preliminary investigation indicates &quot;there were two assailants who approached Tamayo to greet him at a business in his home&quot;, the Veracruz prosecutor&#39;s office said in a statement. 
 
A family member said on condition of anonymity that Tamayo had come out to help his wife and two sons man a food stand when he was killed. 
 
The gunmen opened fire and fled in a vehicle, the statement said. Tamayo succumbed to his wounds in a hospital. 
 
The authorities are &quot;not ruling out any line of investigation, including his journalistic work&quot;, as a motive, the statement said. 
 
Tamayo worked for the media outlets El Pinero de la Cuenca and Al Calor Politico. 
 
Mexico is among the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, with more than 90 media workers killed and 17 others having disappeared since 2000, according to the international press rights group Reporters Without Borders. 
 
In Veracruz alone, 19 journalists have now been murdered in the past six years. 
 
(AFP)

A family member said Tamayo, the journalist, had come out to help his wife and two sons man a food stand when he was killed

A Mexican journalist was shot dead in front of his wife and two adult children outside his home in a crime-ridden eastern state where 18 other reporters have been murdered since 2010. Pedro Tamayo Rosas, a 45-year-old who covered the police beat for two online dailies in Veracruz state, was killed late Wednesday in the town of Tierra Blanca, prosecutors said. The preliminary investigation indicates "there were two assailants who approached Tamayo to greet him at a business in his home", the Veracruz prosecutor's office said in a statement. A family member said on condition of anonymity that Tamayo had come out to help his wife and two sons man a food stand when he was killed. The gunmen opened fire and fled in a vehicle, the statement said. Tamayo succumbed to his wounds in a hospital. The authorities are "not ruling out any line of investigation, including his journalistic work", as a motive, the statement said. Tamayo worked for the media outlets El Pinero de la Cuenca and Al Calor Politico. Mexico is among the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, with more than 90 media workers killed and 17 others having disappeared since 2000, according to the international press rights group Reporters Without Borders. In Veracruz alone, 19 journalists have now been murdered in the past six years. (AFP)

Mexico: Another scribe killed in Veracruz state

mexico-violence

Mexico Violence, News on Mexico Violence, stories on Mexico Violence, articles on Mexico Violence, Mexico Violence stories at Wion, Mexico Violence news, Mexico Violence latest news

mexico violence

Flights disrupted, army on the road, fear of turf wars: What's happening in Mexico 24 hours after El Mencho's killing

El Mencho’s death adds to Mexico’s long, violent cartel history

WATCH | Violence erupts in Mexico after drug cartel leader dies

El Mencho's death paralyses Mexico: 11 reasons why drug cartels are so powerful

El Mencho’s US-born daughter can be drug cartel's new leader

Was Trump involved in killing of Mexico's drug lord El Mencho?

Mexico on the boil after drug kingpin El Mencho's killing - What's happening

Mexico captures son of 'El Chapo' sparking wave of violence

Mexico: Another man arrested in case of double murder

Gang war: 14 bodies found by roadside in Mexico

Mexico is bleeding. Can its new President stop the violence?

Mexico: Another scribe killed in Veracruz state