MEXICO CITY — In a significant military operation, the Mexican army has reportedly killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), according to a statement from a federal official.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly, confirmed that the incident took place during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco.

This development unfolded after hours of chaos where cartel members set up roadblocks using burning vehicles across Jalisco and other regions, a common tactic to disrupt and hinder military efforts.

Social media was flooded with videos showing thick smoke rising over Puerto Vallarta, a prominent city in Jalisco, while panic gripped the state’s capital airport. In response to the unrest, Air Canada suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta, advising travelers to avoid the airport due to the “ongoing security situation.”

On the same day, the U.S. Embassy issued a warning for American citizens in Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara, as well as in Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon, urging them to shelter in place.

The U.S. State Department had previously announced a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to El Mencho’s capture. The CJNG, a rapidly expanding criminal enterprise, emerged in 2009 and has since become one of Mexico’s most influential drug cartels.

In February, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.

It has been one of the most aggressive cartels in its attacks on the military-including helicopters-and a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and installing mines. In 2020, it carried out a spectacular assassination attempt with grenades and high-powered rifles in the heart of Mexico City against the then head of the capital’s police force and now head of federal security.

The DEA considers this cartel to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico’s most infamous criminal groups, with a presence in all 50 US states where it distributes tons of drugs. It is one of the main suppliers of cocaine to the US market and, like the Sinaloa cartel, earns billions from the production of fentanyl and methamphetamines.

Since 2017, Oseguera Cervantes has been indicted several times in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

The most recent superseding indictment, filed on April 5, 2022, charges Oseguera Cervantes with conspiracy and distribution of controlled substances (methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl) for the purpose of illegal importation into the United States and use of firearms during and in connection with drug trafficking offenses. Oseguera Cervantes is also charged under the Drug Kingpin Enforcement Act for directing a continuing criminal enterprise.