{"id":11679472,"date":"2026-02-23T16:36:47","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T21:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/?p=11679472"},"modified":"2026-02-23T16:36:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T21:36:47","slug":"mexico-jalisco-violence-el-mencho-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/11679472\/mexico-jalisco-violence-el-mencho-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Who was &#8216;El Mencho,&#8217; the Mexican drug lord whose death sparked violence?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sunday&#8217;s killing of <a href=\"http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/tag\/Nemesio-Oseguera-Cervantes\">Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes<\/a> by the Mexican army marks the biggest blow to the country&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/tag\/drug-cartels\">drug cartels<\/a> in years, sparking a wave of violent retaliation.<\/p>\n<p>Oseguera Cervantes, better known as &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/tag\/el-mencho\">El Mencho<\/a>,&#8221; led the powerful and deadly <a href=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/tag\/jalisco\">Jalisco<\/a> New Generation Cartel, which has earned a reputation for brazen attacks against Mexican security forces while establishing itself as a top distributor of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He was brutal,&#8221; said Alejandro Garcia Magos, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto who studies Mexican politics, who called Oseguera Cervantes&#8217; death &#8220;good news.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Oseguera Cervantes was facing multiple indictments in the United States, and the U.S. State Department had offered a US$15 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Canada and the U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.publicsafety.gc.ca\/cnt\/ntnl-scrt\/cntr-trrrsm\/lstd-ntts\/crrnt-lstd-ntts-en.aspx#2025-02-20-1\">designated his cartel<\/a> and others foreign terrorist organizations a year ago.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what to know about &#8220;El Mencho&#8221; and the cartel he formed and led until his death.<\/p>\n\t<div class=\"l-article__sectionHeading c-sectionHeading \">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"l-article__sectionAnchor c-sectionHeading__anchor\" id=\"a-lengthy-criminal-history\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"c-sectionHeading__title\">\n\t\t\t\tA lengthy criminal history\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p>Born in rural Michoac\u00e1n in western Mexico in 1966, Oseguera Cervantes grew up in a poor family before he reportedly illegally immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s.<\/p>\n<p>He settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he was arrested multiple times on firearms and drug charges and deported back to Mexico, but managed to re-enter the U.S.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.univision.com\/los-angeles\/kmex\/noticias\/narcotrafico\/el-mencho-el-deportado-que-se-convirtio-en-el-narco-mas-sanguinario\">A Univision profile of Oseguera Cervantes<\/a> claims he smuggled drugs from Mexico into the U.S. multiple times, crossing the border under various aliases.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a \n\t\t\t\tclass=\"story-img-link\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-featured=\"\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-type=\"video\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-stickyiframe=\"video_11679482\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-ratio=\"16:9\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/video\/embed\/11679482\/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_11679482\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-expand=\"true\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t        \t<span class=\"story-img-link-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-media icon-media-video icon-media-playVideo\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"640\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"360\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/media.globalnews.ca\/videostatic\/news\/xaf3qc59m1-7pu1u9xy3l\/2026_02_23_MELISSA_GODBOUT_WEB.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"story-img\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Click to play video: Canadians stranded in Mexico\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t        \t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<p>In 1992, after settling in California once again, Oseguera Cervantes and his brother Abraham were arrested on federal charges in Sacramento, three weeks after a heroin deal with undercover police officers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170713011422\/http:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/culture\/features\/the-brutal-rise-of-el-mencho-w491405\">According to Rolling Stone<\/a>, Oseguera Cervantes pleaded guilty in order to avoid a life sentence for Abraham, who had acted as the seller while &#8220;El Mencho&#8221; served as lookout.<\/p>\n<p>Oseguera Cervantes was sentenced to five years in prison but was released on parole after three years, after which he was deported back to Mexico.<\/p>\n<p>Upon his return, &#8220;El Mencho&#8221; became a Jalisco state police officer before joining the Milenio Cartel. He soon married Rosalinda Gonz\u00e1lez Valencia, whose family led the cartel.<\/p>\n<p>Oseguera Cervantes first served in an assassin squad that protected Milenio&#8217;s leaders and gradually rose through the cartel&#8217;s ranks to become a top lieutenant during a time when Milenio effectively merged with the powerful Sinaloa Cartel.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a \n\t\t\t\tclass=\"story-img-link\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-featured=\"\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-type=\"video\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-stickyiframe=\"video_11679476\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-ratio=\"16:9\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/video\/embed\/11679476\/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_11679476\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-expand=\"true\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t        \t<span class=\"story-img-link-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-media icon-media-video icon-media-playVideo\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"640\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"360\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/media.globalnews.ca\/videostatic\/news\/fhmm68nble-9cf7f7gmoy\/FB_ANAND_STILL.mp4.00_00_01_02.Still001.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"story-img\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Click to play video: More than 26,000 Canadians in Mexico have registered with Global Affairs Canada: Anand\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t        \t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<p>&#8220;El Mencho&#8221; worked closely with Ignacio &#8220;Nacho&#8221; Coronel, an ally of Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaqu\u00edn &#8220;El Chapo&#8221; Guzm\u00e1n, to help enforce Sinaloa&#8217;s control of drug trafficking through Jalisco state and its capital city of Guadalajara.<\/p>\n<p>In a span of months between 2009 and 2010, Coronel was killed in a shootout with Mexican soldiers and Milenio&#8217;s top leader, \u00d3scar Orlando Nava Valencia (&#8220;El Lobo&#8221;), was captured.<\/p>\n<p>Out of the leadership vacuum, the Milenio Cartel fractured into two warring groups \u2014 one of them led by &#8220;El Mencho,&#8221; which won the war over control of the Jalisco drug trade and changed its name to C\u00e1rtel de Jalisco Nueva Generaci\u00f3n, or CJNG.<\/p>\n\t<div class=\"l-article__sectionHeading c-sectionHeading \">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"l-article__sectionAnchor c-sectionHeading__anchor\" id=\"expansion-of-power\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"c-sectionHeading__title\">\n\t\t\t\tExpansion of power\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p>CJNG steadily expanded its control over drug trafficking across Jalisco and into other neighbouring states &#8220;with the political protection of governors&#8221; who were corrupted, said Edgardo Buscaglia, a senior scholar in law and economics at Columbia University.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s huge, when you have the political protection of nine governors \u2014 that allows you to engage in local monopolies to make a lot of money through not just drugs, not just human trafficking, not just migrant trafficking, but you start making money through the state, through public procurement,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;So the Jalisco cartel was very much merged with the Jalisco state.&#8221;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a \n\t\t\t\tclass=\"story-img-link\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-featured=\"\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-type=\"video\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-stickyiframe=\"video_11678864\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-ratio=\"16:9\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/video\/embed\/11678864\/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_11678864\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-expand=\"true\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t        \t<span class=\"story-img-link-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-media icon-media-video icon-media-playVideo\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"640\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"360\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/media.globalnews.ca\/videostatic\/news\/74taeqvcs9-emzan6e8b\/WEB_PV_PIC.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"story-img\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Click to play video: Violence in Mexico after cartel leader killed\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t        \t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<p>Days before Oseguera Cervantes was killed, <a href=\"https:\/\/home.treasury.gov\/news\/press-releases\/sb0400\">the U.S. government accused him and CJNG of a timeshare fraud scheme<\/a> in Puerto Vallarta as an additional illicit revenue stream for the cartel.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.start.umd.edu\/tracking-cartels-infographic-series-violent-rise-c-rtel-de-jalisco-nueva-generaci-n-cjng\">CJNG&#8217;s assets have been estimated<\/a> to be around US$20 billion by state terrorism researchers at the University of Maryland.<\/p>\n<p>Gonz\u00e1lez Valencia, &#8220;El Mencho&#8217;s&#8221; wife, who was known as &#8220;La Jefa,&#8221; has led the cartel&#8217;s financial and money laundering operations, which included real estate and luxury resort properties.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There isn&#8217;t a single state in Mexico that doesn&#8217;t have the presence of either the Jalisco cartel or the Sinaloa Cartel in some shape or form, be that in terms of boots on the ground or the financial structures of these organizations,&#8221; said Deborah Bonello, the managing editor of InSight Crime, an organized crime think tank that has published several profiles and <a href=\"https:\/\/insightcrime.org\/mexico-organized-crime-news\/nemesio-oseguera-ramos-alias-el-mencho\/\">analyses of &#8220;El Mencho&#8221;<\/a> and CJNG.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;El Mencho&#8221; effectively solidified his position as Mexico&#8217;s new top drug lord in 2016, after the final capture of &#8220;El Chapo&#8221; Guzman, when CKPG kidnapped two of Guzman&#8217;s sons while they were vacationing in Puerto Vallarta. The two men were eventually freed after a negotiation with Guzman that involved payment to CKPG in cash and drugs.<\/p>\n\t<div class=\"l-article__sectionHeading c-sectionHeading \">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"l-article__sectionAnchor c-sectionHeading__anchor\" id=\"brazen-violence\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"c-sectionHeading__title\">\n\t\t\t\tBrazen violence\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p>Oseguera Cervantes evaded capture by Mexican forces multiple times before his death on Sunday and maintained an extremely low profile.<\/p>\n<p>His cartel, meanwhile, developed a reputation for brazen violence against Mexican authorities and politicians, including the 2013 murder of Jalisco tourism secretary Jes\u00fas Gallegos \u00c1lvarez, which was believed to have been ordered by &#8220;El Mencho.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In 2015, CJNG forces ambushed a police convoy travelling from Puerto Vallarta to Guadalajara, killing 15 officers. A few weeks later, during a retaliatory operation by Mexico&#8217;s military on &#8220;El Mencho&#8217;s&#8221; suspected compound, cartel soldiers shot down a military helicopter, killing nine Mexican army and police officials.<\/p>\n<p>The cartel followed that up by unleashing a wave of violence across Jalisco state similar to the current unrest.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a \n\t\t\t\tclass=\"story-img-link\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-featured=\"\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-type=\"video\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-stickyiframe=\"video_11678650\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-ratio=\"16:9\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/video\/embed\/11678650\/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_11678650\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-displayinline-expand=\"true\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t        \t<span class=\"story-img-link-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-media icon-media-video icon-media-playVideo\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"640\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"360\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/media.globalnews.ca\/videostatic\/news\/tvxkfygbd1-xglamh45zb\/mexico_cartel_vms.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"story-img\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Click to play video: Canada issues travel advisory for Mexico amid violence following death of cartel leader \u2018El Mencho\u2019\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t        \t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<p>CJNG was also blamed for the attempted assassination in 2020 of Mexico City Police Chief Omar Garc\u00eda Harfuch, who is now Mexico&#8217;s federal security secretary.<\/p>\n<p>The Canadian government says CJNG &#8220;is known for their innovative use of rigging drones to drop explosives, a violent tactic adopted from insurgent groups.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The cartel has also used public executions and kidnappings in territories it controls to instill terror in communities, the Canadian terrorism listing for CJNG says.<\/p>\n<p>Toronto police seized 835 kilograms of cocaine linked to CJNG in January 2025, marking the largest drug seizure in the city&#8217;s history.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dea.gov\/press-releases\/2025\/09\/29\/dea-targets-cjng-operations-seizing-million-counterfeit-pills-and-77000\">The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced in September last year<\/a> it had seized 77,000 kilograms of drugs and over a million counterfeit pills during five days of operations in the U.S. and Mexico.<\/p>\n<p>With Oseguera Cervantes now dead, it remains to be seen whether CJNG can be fully taken down.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Unless the political protection of the Jalisco cartel ends, the death of &#8216;El Mencho&#8217; will mean nothing,&#8221; Buscaglia said.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014With files from Global&#8217;s Touria Izri, Uday Rana and Jackson Proskow<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which has earned a reputation for brutal violence while consolidating its power.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":190094592,"featured_media":11679571,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"apple_news_api_created_at":"2026-02-23T21:37:01Z","apple_news_api_id":"7032572c-10ff-46bc-a151-fe32e97540df","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2026-02-23T21:37:01Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AcDJXLBD_RryhUf4y6XVA3w","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[546387958,546387900],"tags":[1568490,700992833,117169,783],"gnca-iab-tag":[700515418,700532141,700512285,700514911,700511479,700511770,700513401,700527486,700519588,700567916,700520257,700512143,700538927,700557206,700568332,700511807,700992965,700524123,700991385,700513400,700511766,700512873,700577678,700560431,700512025,700518712,700516835,700513311,700601724,700516122,700547788,700524275,700992967,700518396,700514848,700638123,700945518,700516439,700513305,700511963,700992966,700992962,700555413,700511981,700514845,700513317,700695278,700512726,700513910,700650199,700992961,700512375,700512243,700520238,700530257,700515989,700511854,700992964,700518942,700992836,700513212,700961815,700513316,700515980,700517991,700513123,700511608,700511968,700511982,700514760,700520227,700527278,700518073,700523740,700523167,700529850,700992963,700516534,700518211,700651653,700515414,700531188,700513399,700670349,700519771,700592358,700518830,700514252,700545601,700514390,700512112,700514389,700661917,700511685,700511855,700512995,700516493,700511910,700521907,700536550,700557962,700514231,700636838,700992968,700528267,700511615,700511987,700663571,700512332],"gnca-iab-category":[700511849,700511554,700511555,700511620],"coauthors":[700818721],"class_list":["post-11679472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime","category-world","tag-drug-cartels","tag-el-mencho","tag-jalisco","tag-mexico","gnca-regions-gnca-national","gnca-program-global-national","gnca-iab-tag-academy-awards","gnca-iab-tag-assassination","gnca-iab-tag-asset","gnca-iab-tag-california","gnca-iab-tag-canada","gnca-iab-tag-cash","gnca-iab-tag-cocaine","gnca-iab-tag-columbia-university","gnca-iab-tag-convoy","gnca-iab-tag-covert-operation","gnca-iab-tag-deportation","gnca-iab-tag-drug","gnca-iab-tag-drug-cartel","gnca-iab-tag-drug-enforcement-administration","gnca-iab-tag-drug-lord","gnca-iab-tag-economics","gnca-iab-tag-edgardo-buscaglia","gnca-iab-tag-explosive","gnca-iab-tag-fausto-isidro-meza-flores","gnca-iab-tag-fentanyl","gnca-iab-tag-firearm","gnca-iab-tag-fraud","gnca-iab-tag-government-procurement","gnca-iab-tag-guadalajara","gnca-iab-tag-helicopter","gnca-iab-tag-heroin","gnca-iab-tag-human-trafficking","gnca-iab-tag-illegal-drug-trade","gnca-iab-tag-illegal-immigration-to-the-united-states","gnca-iab-tag-image","gnca-iab-tag-immigration-to-the-united-states","gnca-iab-tag-indictment","gnca-iab-tag-insight-crime","gnca-iab-tag-insurgency","gnca-iab-tag-jackson-proskow","gnca-iab-tag-jalisco","gnca-iab-tag-jalisco-new-generation-cartel","gnca-iab-tag-kidnapping","gnca-iab-tag-kilogram","gnca-iab-tag-law","gnca-iab-tag-law-and-economics","gnca-iab-tag-law-enforcement-in-mexico-city","gnca-iab-tag-lieutenant","gnca-iab-tag-life-imprisonment","gnca-iab-tag-maryland","gnca-iab-tag-methamphetamine","gnca-iab-tag-mexican-army","gnca-iab-tag-mexico","gnca-iab-tag-mexico-city","gnca-iab-tag-michoacan","gnca-iab-tag-milenio-cartel","gnca-iab-tag-military-helicopter","gnca-iab-tag-money","gnca-iab-tag-money-laundering","gnca-iab-tag-monopoly","gnca-iab-tag-mug-shot","gnca-iab-tag-murder","gnca-iab-tag-nacho-varga","gnca-iab-tag-negotiation","gnca-iab-tag-nemesio-oseguera-cervantes","gnca-iab-tag-nothing","gnca-iab-tag-omar-garcia-harfuch","gnca-iab-tag-organized-crime","gnca-iab-tag-parole","gnca-iab-tag-payment","gnca-iab-tag-plea","gnca-iab-tag-police","gnca-iab-tag-police-officer","gnca-iab-tag-prison","gnca-iab-tag-professor","gnca-iab-tag-pseudonym","gnca-iab-tag-puerto-vallarta","gnca-iab-tag-real-estate","gnca-iab-tag-resort","gnca-iab-tag-roadblock","gnca-iab-tag-rolling-stone","gnca-iab-tag-rosalinda-gonzalez-valencia","gnca-iab-tag-sacramento-california","gnca-iab-tag-san-francisco","gnca-iab-tag-san-francisco-bay","gnca-iab-tag-san-francisco-bay-area","gnca-iab-tag-secretary","gnca-iab-tag-seizure","gnca-iab-tag-shape","gnca-iab-tag-shelter-in-place","gnca-iab-tag-sinaloa-cartel","gnca-iab-tag-smuggling","gnca-iab-tag-soldier","gnca-iab-tag-state-terrorism","gnca-iab-tag-tank","gnca-iab-tag-terrorism","gnca-iab-tag-think-tank","gnca-iab-tag-timeshare","gnca-iab-tag-toronto","gnca-iab-tag-toronto-police-service","gnca-iab-tag-trade","gnca-iab-tag-u-s-state","gnca-iab-tag-united-states","gnca-iab-tag-united-states-department-of-state","gnca-iab-tag-united-states-department-of-state-list-of-foreign-terrorist-organizations","gnca-iab-tag-university-of-maryland-college-park","gnca-iab-tag-university-of-toronto","gnca-iab-tag-univision","gnca-iab-tag-vacationing-in-puerto-vallarta","gnca-iab-tag-vacuum","gnca-iab-tag-vehicle","gnca-iab-tag-violence","gnca-iab-tag-wanted-poster","gnca-iab-tag-wave","gnca-iab-category-crime-and-justice","gnca-iab-category-law-and-government","gnca-iab-category-public-safety","gnca-iab-category-sensitive-subjects"],"apple_news_notices":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/11679472\/mexico-jalisco-violence-el-mencho-explained\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":[],"rendered":"","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/globalnews.ca\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/El-Mencho-Mexico-composite-e1771868966652.jpeg?quality=65&strip=all","openmedia_bucket":"","gnca_regions":["National"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11679264,"url":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/11679264\/canadians-mexico-puerto-vallarta\/","url_meta":{"origin":11679472,"position":0},"title":"26K Canadians in Mexico as cartel violence hits Puerto Vallarta: minister","author":"Uday Rana","date":"February 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"There are currently more than 26,000 Canadians registered in Mexico \u2014 and no plans for military or consular flights to assist Canadians getting out.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Canada&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Canada","link":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/canada\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Passengers wait for updates inside the Puerto Vallarta airport after the military closed and secured the facility on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.","src":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Puerto-Vallarta-airport-2.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Puerto-Vallarta-airport-2.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Puerto-Vallarta-airport-2.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Puerto-Vallarta-airport-2.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11678412,"url":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/11678412\/puerto-vallarta-mexico-security-situation-canadians-stranded\/","url_meta":{"origin":11679472,"position":1},"title":"Canadians say Puerto Vallarta a &#8216;war zone&#8217; amid escalating violence","author":"Sean Previl","date":"February 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Amid violence, people in Puerto Vallarta have been told to keep a low profile, follow the advice of local authorities, and monitor local and international media to stay informed.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Canada&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Canada","link":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/canada\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/puerto-vallarta-smoke-security.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/puerto-vallarta-smoke-security.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/puerto-vallarta-smoke-security.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/puerto-vallarta-smoke-security.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2230000,"url":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/2230000\/2-top-mexican-prison-officials-among-13-arrested-in-drug-kingpin-guzmans-prison-escape\/","url_meta":{"origin":11679472,"position":2},"title":"2 top Mexican prison officials among 13 arrested in drug kingpin Guzman&#8217;s prison escape","author":"globalnewsdigital","date":"September 19, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The former head of Mexico's federal prisons and the ex-director of the Altiplano penitentiary that drug capo Joaquin \"El Chapo\" Guzman escaped from are among 13 additional people arrested in the jail break.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Crime&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Crime","link":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/crime\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/09086738.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/09086738.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/09086738.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/09086738.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1999546,"url":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/1999546\/alleged-drug-smuggler-kicked-out-of-canada\/","url_meta":{"origin":11679472,"position":3},"title":"Alleged drug smuggler kicked out of Canada","author":"Shannon Greer","date":"May 14, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"A Lethbridge man wanted for drug trafficking in Colorado has been arrested and handed over to U.S. Marshals.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Crime&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Crime","link":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/crime\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/alert-generic-photo.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/alert-generic-photo.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/alert-generic-photo.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/alert-generic-photo.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":243949,"url":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/243949\/surrey-man-found-guilty-of-murdering-his-roommate\/","url_meta":{"origin":11679472,"position":4},"title":"Surrey man found guilty of murdering his roommate","author":"globalnewsdigital","date":"May 10, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Surrey man found guilty of murdering his roommate METRO VANCOUVER - Surrey resident Lester Oseguera, a house painter originally from Honduras, has been found guilty of second degree murder in the shooting death of his roommate Jose Luna two years ago, say the RCMP's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. He","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9516708,"url":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/9516708\/vermont-quebec-border-death-investigation\/","url_meta":{"origin":11679472,"position":5},"title":"Vermont police investigating after man dies crossing border from Quebec","author":"globalnewsdigital","date":"February 28, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Vermont State Police are investigating after a man collapsed and died shortly after crossing the border into the United States from Quebec on foot last week.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Canada&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Canada","link":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/canada\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/20230228100232-0b3b7fe58154f9e764566d8f63984730ea1b958da693be296ef6cfc4c869798f-1.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/20230228100232-0b3b7fe58154f9e764566d8f63984730ea1b958da693be296ef6cfc4c869798f-1.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/20230228100232-0b3b7fe58154f9e764566d8f63984730ea1b958da693be296ef6cfc4c869798f-1.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/20230228100232-0b3b7fe58154f9e764566d8f63984730ea1b958da693be296ef6cfc4c869798f-1.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11679472","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/190094592"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11679472"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11679472\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11680013,"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11679472\/revisions\/11680013"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11679571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11679472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11679472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11679472"},{"taxonomy":"gnca-iab-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/gnca-iab-tag?post=11679472"},{"taxonomy":"gnca-iab-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/gnca-iab-category?post=11679472"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=11679472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}