The Mexican Security Cabinet under Secretary Omar García Harfuch, held a conference with the U.S. Drug Czar, Sara Carter, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, in Mexico City on Tuesday.
The meeting was reportedly scheduled prior to a federal operation with Mexican authorities that led to the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the now deceased leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, on Feb. 22, which later later descended the popular tourist destinations of Puerto Vallarta, and the heavily populated city of Guadalajara, into total mayhem for 48 hours.
Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro of Jalisco state was forced to declare a “RED ALERT,” or a state of emergency in Jalisco state, ordering that all residents shelter in place to avoid the wrath of cartel associates patrolling the street following the death of their chieftain.
The Mexican government has recently been criticized by the Trump administration for not doing enough in the fight against drug trafficking organizations in Mexico.
Earlier in the year, the administration in Washington floated the idea of having U.S. military operators conduct anti-drug trafficking operations inside Mexican territory.
President Sheinbaum of Mexico said she rejected the offer during a 15-minute phone call with the U.S. president in early January.
For the “El Mencho” raid, the administration also reportedly offered to use its own forces to insert an entry team in Tapalpa to extract “El Mencho,” according to reports, but Sheinbaum insisted that only Mexican authorities participate in the raid.
Both the Mexican and U.S. governments have confirmed, however, that U.S. intelligence was indeed provided to help locate “El Mencho” at his hideout in Tapalpa, southeast of Guadalajara in Jalisco state, following a rendezvous with a girlfriend, according to Mexican authorities, who was tracked by U.S. intelligence, leading authorities to the crime boss.
During her press conference, President Sheinbaum she was not present at the meeting on Tuesday with U.S. officials, adding:
“It was a cordial, protocol meeting. It had been planned for some time. It's not something that came up recently, and it was a meeting as part of this understanding we have with the United States,” Sheinbaum said.
