Mexico – Impact of El Mencho’s Death

The Mexican army, with intelligence support from the United States, attempted to capture the leader of one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Mexico and the world, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). However, “El Mencho” and other CJNG members were killed during the operation. In response, CJNG members closed several highways across roughly one-third of the country, including in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Guanajuato, and Hidalgo. The international airport in Guadalajara, Mexico’s third-largest city, was closed on Sunday due to fears of reprisals but it appears to have reopened today . According to official statistics, in Q4 2025, 64% of people living in 91 cities reported feeling unsafe in their city. Investment in Mexico has collapsed—dragging down GDP growth—and has been negatively affected by insecurity. It is time for the Mexican government to begin reestablishing its monopoly on the use of force. While this may bring short-term disturbances, it should eventually improve living standards and higher economic growth.