From Poverty to Power: The Rise and Fall of ‘El Mencho’

Nemesiо Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho” was born on July 17, 1966 in a poor rural village in Michoacán, Mexico. He grew up in a farming family with limited resources and left school after the fifth grade to help support his parents. Life was difficult, and from a young age he was exposed to marijuana cultivation in his area, which later influenced his path.

As a teenager, he began working as a guard for marijuana fields. In the 1980s, hoping to escape poverty, he illegally entered the United States and settled in California. There, he used different names to hide his identity. During this time, he became involved in drug trafficking activities and started building contacts in criminal networks.

In 1986, at just 19 years old, he was arrested in the San Francisco Bay Area for possessing stolen property and weapons. A few years later, in 1992, he was arrested again and sentenced to five years in prison for heroin distribution. After serving part of his sentence in Texas, he was released and deported back to Mexico.

Back in Mexico, he briefly joined the local police in Jalisco state. However, he soon left law enforcement and fully entered organized crime. He joined the Milenio Cartel and strengthened his position through alliances and family connections. Over time, internal conflicts within criminal groups allowed him to rise in power.

He later became the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Under his leadership, the cartel expanded rapidly and became one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Mexico. The group was involved in trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, and it built strong international smuggling routes. Authorities said the cartel used advanced weapons and operated with a highly organized structure.

Because of his growing influence, the United States government placed him on its most wanted list and offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture. Mexican security forces launched several operations to arrest him, but he managed to avoid capture for many years, increasing his reputation and influence within criminal circles.

El Mencho was eventually killed in a major military operation supported by U.S. intelligence. After news of his death spread, violence broke out in several parts of Mexico. Armed groups reportedly burned vehicles, blocked highways, and clashed with security forces. His death marked a major moment in Mexico’s fight against organized crime, but experts say such events can sometimes lead to power struggles and further instability within criminal networks.