A new investigative report claims that Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), narrowly escaped capture after receiving a tip-off from within Mexico’s National Guard.
The revelation has sparked fresh concerns about cartel infiltration in federal security forces, an issue long feared but rarely confirmed with such specificity.
The report, published August 6 by veteran journalist Raymundo Riva Palacio, alleges that a highly coordinated raid planned by Mexico’s armed forces was compromised in its final hours due to an internal leak—allowing one of the country’s most wanted men to slip away once again.
A missed opportunity
According to the article, federal agencies had identified a safehouse where El Mencho was believed to be hiding and had mobilized military units for a surprise raid.
The operation was described as “high-level and surgical,” with the objective of capturing the CJNG leader without civilian casualties or prolonged confrontation.
However, just hours before the raid began, El Mencho vanished from the location. Investigators now believe that someone inside the National Guard warned cartel operatives, allowing Oseguera to flee and erase traces of his presence.
“This was not coincidence. He was tipped off,” Riva Palacio wrote. “The operation was clean. The intelligence was solid. Someone gave him the advantage.”
National Guard under scrutiny
The National Guard, created in 2019 to consolidate federal police and military duties, was originally intended to restore public trust in security institutions. But the force has faced growing criticism over lack of training, low oversight, and concerns of corruption.
This report adds to that pressure, suggesting the National Guard may be vulnerable to internal sabotage from cartel sympathizers or paid informants.
Security analysts have warned for years that CJNG, one of Mexico’s most militarized criminal organizations, actively recruits former soldiers and law enforcement officers—not just to enhance its firepower, but to gain access to government intelligence.
No official confirmation, but no denial
As of August 6, neither the National Guard nor the federal government has publicly confirmed or denied the claims made in the report.
A senior official in the Defense Ministry, speaking anonymously to reporters, admitted that “the operation did not result in an arrest” but declined to discuss specifics, citing national security concerns.
CJNG has been a top target for Mexican and U.S. authorities due to its rapid expansion, control of key drug corridors, and involvement in high-level violence across multiple states.
El Mencho, a former police officer, remains one of the DEA’s most wanted fugitives, with a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Political pressure mounting
Opposition lawmakers immediately seized on the report to demand answers from the Sheinbaum administration.
“This cannot be ignored,” said PAN Senator Lilly Téllez. “If the National Guard is compromised, the entire national security apparatus is at risk.”
Calls for an internal investigation, as well as congressional oversight hearings, are likely to intensify in the coming days.
So far, the president’s office has remained silent on the matter.
A familiar pattern of near misses
This would not be the first time El Mencho has narrowly escaped capture. Previous reports suggest that he has evaded raids on multiple occasions over the past five years, often disappearing just before law enforcement arrives.
In 2022, a similar operation in the state of Jalisco ended in a firefight with cartel gunmen, but the target was not present. Officials at the time denied that the operation was specifically aimed at El Mencho—though leaked documents later suggested otherwise.
The recurring pattern has led some observers to conclude that CJNG maintains advanced intelligence networks, capable of intercepting or predicting federal actions.
If this latest report is accurate, it suggests the group may now have informants embedded inside federal institutions—a dangerous development for national security.
Growing threat from CJNG
CJNG remains one of the most aggressive and expansionist cartels in Mexico, with active operations in over 20 states and direct links to drug trafficking routes in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Their capacity to bribe, infiltrate, and militarize has elevated them to a level few cartels in Mexican history have achieved.
If Mexico’s security forces are leaking sensitive information—whether through corruption, intimidation, or infiltration—the country’s ability to combat organized crime faces a serious setback.
As pressure builds for accountability, El Mencho remains at large—and the most critical questions remain unanswered.
