Five trucks were needed to transport all the wreaths to the cemetery, most of which were sent anonymously. The funeral procession was accompanied by traditional local ranchera music and narcocorridos, songs that often praise figures from the drug world.
One of Mexico’s most notorious crime figures, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was buried in a golden coffin during a funeral ceremony organized by his family near the city of Guadalajara, in the western state of Jalisco. The ceremony took place under tight security amid fears of new violence from members of the cartel he led. The 59-year-old founder of the feared Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was killed after being wounded in a gunfight between his bodyguards and Mexican special forces in late February. He was considered Mexico’s most wanted man, with US authorities offering a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
El Mencho’s death sparked a wave of violence in at least 20 Mexican states, with cartel members burning vehicles and blocking major roads in retaliation. National Guard forces were put on standby to prevent further escalation during the funeral. Footage from the funeral showed numerous floral tributes, including a wreath in the shape of a rooster, a reference to his passion for cockfighting.
Five trucks were reportedly needed to transport all the wreaths to the cemetery, most of which were sent anonymously. The funeral procession was accompanied by traditional local ranchera music and narcocorridos, songs that often praise drug figures. The traditional song “El Muchacho Alegre” was played as the golden coffin arrived inside the cemetery complex. Although the ceremony was grand, local media reported that his tomb was relatively simple compared to the large mausoleums often built for other cartel leaders. Under the leadership of Oseguera Cervantes, the CJNG transformed into a powerful transnational criminal organization, extending its activities into many states in Mexico and beyond its borders, mainly in the production and trafficking of drugs.
His removal by special forces is seen as a major victory for the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum, which has been under constant pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking. However, experts warn that the vacuum left by such a powerful figure could cause internal clashes between factions of the cartel, which is believed to have tens of thousands of members, increasing the risk of a new wave of violence in the short term.