Mexico Has Finally Toppled a Major Drug Kingpin. What Comes Next Matters More.

"All of these people that join this business, let's call it a business, know that they are in it for a likely exhilarating, if that sort of thing excites you, but very short ride. Only very, very few have managed to escape the long arm of the law for a long time."

"To be fair, El Mencho's ride was longer than most. He was active for nearly two decades-which made him a kind of mythical figure, bigger than even drug lord El Chapo. In the past few days, it's become clear just how brutal El Mencho's organization could be: Businesses were set on fire. Members of the Mexican national guard died."

"When other cartel bosses have been captured or killed, public violence has followed, as deputies and rivals try to sort out who is running things now."

Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, led Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel and was killed in a raid. He operated for nearly two decades, becoming a mythical figure in organized crime, surpassing even El Chapo's notoriety. His organization was known for extreme brutality, including arson and violence against Mexican national guard members. Journalist León Krauze notes that cartel leaders typically have short careers, with few evading law enforcement long-term. El Mencho's death has triggered expected public violence as rival factions and deputies compete for control. The cartel grew significantly over 20 years, particularly during López Obrador's presidency and its controversial approach to cartel management.

Read at Slate Magazine