El Mencho's Demise: Unpacking the Cartel's Power and the State's Role
Let's follow the trail: The recent killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho,' leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), by Mexican authorities spurred significant unrest in Jalisco. Media reports highlighted the resulting violence, with blocked roads and clashes, framing it as a direct consequence of a successful law enforcement operation. This perspective, however,
glosses over the intricate web of economic pressures and historical interventions that contribute to the enduring power of such organizations. A critical look at the trajectory of Mexican cartels reveals a consistent pattern. The demand for illicit substances from external markets, particularly the United States, fuels this trade. Concurrently, US arms manufacturers profit significantly, with an
estimated 70% of firearms seized in Mexico traced back to the US, according to a 2013 University of San Diego study. This dual flow of demand and supply creates and sustains the environment in which cartels thrive, often with tacit acknowledgment, if not direct complicity, from elements within the state apparatus on both sides of the border. When the US government, through initiatives like the
Merida Initiative launched in 2008, provides extensive security aid to Mexico, it often comes with conditions that empower particular factions or strategies, sometimes exacerbating the conflict. This echoes the historical pattern of external powers dictating internal stability in Latin American nations. For instance, the US military operation 'Interflex' in the 1960s trained Latin American armies,