Mexican authorities hand over body of ‘El Mencho’ to his family

Mexican authorities return body of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, El Mencho, to family

MEXICO CITY — Mexican officials handed over the body of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” to his family following his recent death at the hands of the Mexican army, authorities announced on Saturday.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed the completion of all necessary procedures before releasing El Mencho’s body to his family, conducting genetic tests to establish the familial relationship.

The death of the notorious drug lord triggered a surge of violence across 20 states, resulting in over 70 fatalities.

Concerns have been raised that the escalating violence may impact tourism ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup later this year.

David Mora, a Mexico expert at the International Crisis Group, believes that the aftermath of El Mencho’s death will lead to a different kind of violence, potentially involving cartel reorganization and turf wars among smaller criminal factions.

The U.S. State Department had previously offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to El Mencho’s capture. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, under his leadership, remains one of Mexico’s most influential and rapidly expanding criminal organizations.

In a significant move, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025.

El Mencho’s demise marks a major victory for the Mexican government in its efforts to combat drug cartels and address security threats.