Special forces have reported the demise of a second high-ranking figure from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
The individual, nicknamed “El Tuli,” was eliminated by Mexican special forces in an operation that followed the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” according to authorities.
“El Tuli” served as the financial and logistics head of the cartel, as confirmed by Mexico’s Defense Ministry. He played a key role in orchestrating retaliatory assaults throughout Jalisco following Oseguera’s death during a military raid on Sunday.
Reports indicate that “El Tuli,” whose actual name was Hugo César Macías Ureña, was fatally shot while attempting to flee. Allegedly, he was responsible for planning retaliatory attacks across Mexico following Oseguera’s killing, offering a reward of 20,000 pesos for each soldier killed during the clashes, according to defense officials.
Mexican officials seized over 7.2 million pesos, $965,000 in U.S. currency, weapons, and the getaway vehicle used by “El Tuli.” The aftermath of Oseguera’s demise resulted in widespread violence across Mexico, particularly in Jalisco, the epicenter of the deceased drug lord’s operations. Following the violence on Sunday, reports surfaced of 65 roadblocks, many involving burning vehicles, in Jalisco, with gang members engaging in destructive activities in the streets of Puerto Vallarta.
Additionally, cartel members set fire to numerous banks and local businesses, including pharmacies, in the region. The violence claimed over 60 lives across 20 Mexican states, including a pregnant woman, 25 National Guard soldiers, law enforcement agents, police officers, and 34 cartel members.
The pregnant woman tragically lost her life during a confrontation between National Guard personnel and CJNG members at an intersection in Zapopan. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch reported that the 25 National Guard members were killed in six separate attacks, with a prison riot in Puerto Vallarta resulting in the death of a guard.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro stated that federal forces conducted an operation in Tapalpa, leading to clashes in the area and causing disruptions in various parts of Jalisco. Navarro declared a “code red” for much of Jalisco due to the escalating violence.
After the capture of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, El Mencho rose to become the most influential drug lord in Mexico. The U.S. State Department had previously offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to El Mencho’s arrest.
The CJNG, under the leadership of El Mencho, has significantly expanded its presence across Mexico in recent years. Nemesio Oseguera, the founder of the cartel, took on the alias “El Mencho” after a tumultuous journey that began with picking avocados as a child and evolved into a life of crime and violence.
The CJNG is notorious for its brutal tactics, including downing an army helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade, as they continue to exert influence and instill fear within the criminal landscape of Mexico.