During the operation of the Mexican army, in which drug lord Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera was killed, and the subsequent wave of violence, at least 74 people died, reported on Monday Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch, according to LETA citing DPA.
Among the dead are 25 National Guard officers.
The 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, was wounded in a clash with military forces in the town of Tapalpa in the state of Jalisco on Sunday and died during air transport to Mexico City. The army was attempting to apprehend Oseguera, for whom a reward of $15 million had been announced.
CJNG militants, seeking revenge for the attack on their boss and his death, set vehicles on fire and blocked roads in several states. They also attacked banks, gas stations, and stores.
On Monday, the government stated that the situation was once again under control.
"Mexico is calm. We woke up without any roadblocks, and all activities have been restored," said the country's president, Claudia Sheinbaum.
The president emphasized that only the armed forces of Mexico participated in the army operation. However, the operation was conducted using "additional information" from U.S. agencies alongside Mexican operational intelligence.
During the operation in the town of Tapalpa in the state of Jalisco, eight gang members were killed, the Mexican Ministry of Defense reported. Security forces also confiscated armored vehicles and weapons, including a rocket launcher capable of downing helicopters or planes.
The violence following Oseguera's death affected about 20 of Mexico's 32 states, media reported. Several foreign embassies in Mexico City urged their citizens to exercise caution.
The former police officer Oseguera had led the CJNG since the cartel's founding in 2011. In the criminal underworld of Mexico, he was nicknamed "El Señor de los Gallos" for his love of cockfighting.
The cartel he led is a transnational organization with connections extending to China and Australia. The cartel is involved not only in fentanyl trafficking but also in extortion, human smuggling, oil theft, and other natural resources, as well as illegal arms trading.
