After decades of eluding capture, Mexico’s most wanted drug lord El Mencho, was found with the help of one of his romantic partners, according to security agents.
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, who had a $15 million bounty on his head, was killed after a massive operation by the Mexican Army on Sunday.
The authorities were able to track down the ruthless boss of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel because of one critical tip-off: that he would be meeting with his girlfriend in a cabin.
On Friday, Mexican intelligence officers tracked down a man who was close to one of Oseguera’s romantic partners, the New York Times reported.
General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, Mexico's Secretary of National Defence, said that the man took the woman to see Oseguera in a cabin in Tapalpa in Jalisco state, where the cartel is based.
The woman left the cabin the next day, leaving behind Oseguera with his security team.
The Mexican special forces the began their preparation for his capture.
They moved to Tapalpa early on Sunday. Oseguera fled as a shoot-out began between his security team and the soldiers.
Trevilla said that his associates had a large amount of weaponry and said “It was a very violent attack,” he added. Around 8 of the cartel members were reportedly killed in the firing.
The special forces then tracked Oseguera and another one of his team in the undergrowth of a wooded area.
His group also possessed a rocket launcher, which was used in 2015 to shoot down a military helicopter,
This time, however, Mexican authorities prevented the use of the weapon, and the associates only managed to damage a nearby helicopter.
The operation ended in a bloody shoot-out with several members of the Jalisco cartel being killed.
Oseguera was declared dead after being wounded in the confrontation along with two of his guards while being transported to a medical centre.
Soon after the news of his death, gunmen took to the streets in about 20 states, setting vehicles on fire and wreaking havoc. 62 people were reported dead.
The operation was a victory. It renewed Mexico’s stance against the country’s violent drug cartels, which import illicit substances and renewed its relations with the US.
However, the aftermath of taking out cartel bosses has often been
About 70 people were arrested ad 34 suspected cartel members were killed in the chaos that followed. 25 members of the national guard were also killed.
Hugo H., alias “El Tuli, El Mencho’s closest operative who was in charge of logistics and finances of the organisation, had begun immediately directing the response.
Hugo coordinated the fires and the assault on the Mexican military. After the special forces located him, he tried to flee. He was also killed in the confrontation.
