In Mexico, the enduring love for soccer might be the key to curbing cartel violence.
Following the death of Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, during a military raid on February 22 at a country club in Tapalpa, Jalisco, a temporary truce may be on the horizon, suggests security expert Dr. Raul Benítez.
“There’s a lot of speculation about a ceasefire, and it’s beneficial for both parties,” Benítez explained. “If the cartel continues with terrorist activities on highways and in cities under their control, the government will respond with significant force.”
He continued, “The cartel needs to understand that maintaining peace is crucial right now for the World Cup to proceed as planned. After the tournament, the situation can be reassessed. The risk is that Guadalajara might lose its soccer matches.”
Concerns about losing the World Cup hosting rights emerged after the military’s operation in the mountainside community, where El Mencho and other cartel members were found. The clash resulted in 70 fatalities, and in retaliation, the cartel set fire to numerous vehicles and businesses.
Benítez proposed that it would be advantageous for the cartel to collaborate with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who praised the operation’s outcome, to secure an agreement ensuring FIFA does not exclude Mexico as one of the event’s host countries.
The country is set to host 13 World Cup matches, which will be held in Zapopan, a suburb of Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco; Monterrey, Nuevo León; and Mexico City, the nation’s capital, Benítez said.
“She seems very worried because there’s already pressure from the World Cup organizers, and it won’t be long before the United States and President Trump say the same thing,” Benítez said.
“Mexico needs to be at peace for the World Cup to take place. Well, that’s the ghost hanging over us right now: the government has to pacify the country very quickly — in a week, in about 10 or 15 days — because of the World Cup.”
Estadio Akron — located just 18 miles from where the Mexican army killed El Mencho — is set to host four games. Mexican news outlets reported that the notorious drug lord had purchased tickets for the matches and was planning on gifting them to politicians and business owners.
Travel agencies have cancelled hotel reservations in Guadalajara, Benitez revealed, because visiting soccer fans don’t want to travel there.
Former DEA chief Ray Donovan, who oversaw the operation that led to the capture of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán and is now the CEO of Stack21 Solutions, said he doubts that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel will reach an accord with the government because of the power vacuum that exists following El Mencho’s death.
“I’m not so convinced under Sheinbaum because I feel like Sheinbaum is very much focused on the rule of law,” Donovan told The Post. “I think you have to have a really powerful figurehead [in the cartel] to be able to call the truce and right now there is no one particular person.”
The government soothed the worries of the soccer-loving aficionados in the central city of Queretaro by deploying the Army and National Guard to Estadio Corregidora, where 30,000 spectators enjoyed Mexico’s 4-0 friendly victory over Iceland on Wednesday night.
Mexican congresswoman Jaqueline Hinojosa lauded the security setup and expects a similar strategy to be implemented for each World Cup venue.
“Be assured that tourists who come to Mexico always fall in love with Mexico because there are more good people than bad, and the good people of Mexico will welcome them,” Hinojosa told The Post.
