Mexican cartel leader killed in federal operation

(NBC, KYMA) - The Mexican Army killed a powerful drug cartel leader, triggering unrest across western Mexico.

Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, otherwise known as "El Mencho," the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed by the Mexican Army during an operation to capture him in Tapala, Jalisco.

According a statement from the country's defense department, the cartel leader died while being flown to Mexico City after being wounded during the operation.

His death set off several hours of unrest with vehicles being torched throughout the state leading to a number of road blocks, which is a common tactic used by cartels to block military operations from advancing.

Jalisco New Generation Cartel had become Mexico's most powerful cartel known for trafficking huge quantities of fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S.

In February, the Trump Administration named the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization while the U.S. State Department offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Oseguera Cervantes's arrest.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has been under tremendous pressure from the U.S. to show its force against drug trafficking.

In a statement on X, President Sheinbaum said in part, "We work every day for peace, security, justice, and the well-being of Mexico."