The seizure of rocket launchers taken during a high-stakes raid in Mexico highlights the growing firepower of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Mexican forces confiscated rocket launchers capable of shooting down aircraft in the operation Sunday that killed cartel boss Ruben “Nemesio” Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” The discovery underscores how heavily armed the cartel has become.
Authorities have long warned about CJNG’s military-style capabilities. In 2015, cartel gunmen used rocket-propelled grenades to bring down a Mexican military helicopter in Jalisco. That attack shifted how federal officials assessed the group’s strength and tactics.
During Sunday’s operation, security forces faced immediate resistance. Officials said troops were attacked and returned fire, deploying aircraft and specialized units. Mexican Special Forces, supported by the Air Force and National Guard rapid-reaction teams, carried out the mission. Authorities seized armored vehicles and heavy weapons typically seen in armed conflict rather than civilian law enforcement.
Former U.S. officials have described CJNG as operating more like a paramilitary organization than a traditional trafficking ring. The group has relied on coordinated roadblocks, armed convoys, and structured enforcement wings to dominate contested areas. Prior Drug Enforcement Administration reporting detailed how the cartel organized large numbers of gunmen to deploy force rapidly.
The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert urging Americans in several Mexican states to shelter in place due to “ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity.”
The death of “El Mencho” removes a key cartel leader, but the weapons recovered show the scale of force Mexican authorities must confront.
