Mexican army kills chief of largest drug cartel

WASHINGTON, Feb 22 (KUNA) - The Mexican army killed Sunday Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, founder and top leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the country's largest drug cartels, in a military operation in the western state of Jalisco.
The Mexican Ministry of National Defense stated in a press release that "El Mencho" was killed in a shootout between his cartel and the army and federal security forces in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco.
The Ministry pointed out that four CJNG operatives were killed in the firefight and three more, including El Mencho, were gravely injured.
They were air lifted to Mexico City but succumbed to their wounds en route, the Defense Ministry added.
Three security personnel were also wounded in the operation and were taken to a hospital in Mexico City for treatment. Following the military operation, a series of violent incidents erupted in Jalisco state before spreading to other states such as Michoac?n and Guanajuato. Suspected members of organized crime gangs clashed with security forces, setting fire to buses and blocking roads in the area controlled by "El Mencho." Jalisco Governor Pablo Navarro urged the state's eight million residents to stay home until the situation was under control. Several American and Canadian airlines announced the cancellation of flights to Mexican cities affected by the unrest.
In the United States, the State Department issued a statement declaring El Mencho's death a "major victory" in the war on drugs cartels in Latin America, while expressing concern over the violence in Mexico following the operation. (end) amm.ibi