DEA-FBI list of most wanted drug lords in Mexico after the death of "El Mencho"

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho", the world's biggest drug lord, was killed during a special operation by the Mexican Army against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), two days ago.

He was found in Tapalpa, Jalisco state, and died from his injuries while being transported to Mexico City.

"El Mencho" (meaning a man with a bad mood) was considered one of the most wanted drug traffickers internationally, as he led a criminal organization with extensive activity in most of the country.

Oseguera Cervantes was one of the most powerful figures in organized crime in Mexico, leading the CJNG for years after the arrest of "El Chapo" and the war with the Sinaloa cartel.

He remained illegal for decades and, due to his involvement in drug trafficking, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) had included him on the list of the world's most wanted persons, offering a $15 million reward for his capture.

Who are the most wanted drug traffickers in Mexico after the death of El Mencho?

Following his death by military forces, the question is who the DEA and Mexican authorities now consider their top targets. The updated list includes cartel leaders, local leaders and people connected to money laundering.

The list includes members of “Los Chapitos,” the Sinaloa Cartel faction named after their father, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, as well as members of the CJNG and the Venezuelan organization Tren de Aragua.

The US government and the State Department have labeled some of them as "terrorists" to underscore the seriousness of the charges and the legal treatment they face.

For Oseguera Cervantes, the DEA and FBI offered rewards of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture. He was described as the “founder of the CJNG” and responsible for the escalation of violence and attacks on police forces since 2015.

The updated list, following the arrest of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, includes ten names.

 

Seven of them are Mexican nationals, with reward amounts varying depending on the charges. These are individuals who are a priority for arrest and extradition to the United States, where they face serious criminal charges.