Violence Erupts Across Mexico After Death of Drug Lord El Mencho

Widespread violence broke out across Mexico following the death of notorious drug lord El Mencho, triggering unrest in at least 20 states on Monday. According to reports cited by BBC, supporters of the cartel leader carried out violent protests after news of his death spread. Protesters set up roadblocks in multiple areas and carried out arson attacks, burning vehicles and more than 20 government bank branches. In the state of Jalisco, which is also a host location for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, the situation reportedly resembled a lockdown. Authorities confirmed that at least 32 people were killed in the violence across various cities, including 25 soldiers. During security operations, the army also seized a large cache of weapons, including armored vehicles and rocket launchers. The unrest follows a military operation conducted by Mexican forces on Sunday, during which El Mencho—considered one of the country’s most powerful drug traffickers—was killed. He was injured during the operation and died while being transported to Mexico City. In the same operation, nine other criminals were also killed. According to a report by The New York Times, El Mencho was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a powerful criminal group involved in drug production and trafficking, extortion of local businesses, and widespread intimidation in several regions. The cartel is believed to have a presence across all 50 states of the United States. The U.S. government had announced a reward of ₹136 crore (approximately US$1.36 billion) for information leading to El Mencho’s capture. Donald Trump had also been pressuring Mexico to take action against the cartel leader.