New Delhi, February 23 – Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho,” Mexico’s most wanted and dangerous drug lord, was killed in a military operation. Following his death, there was coordinated violence across several Mexican states, prompting advisories from India, the US, and Canada.
While his death brings relief to Mexico and neighboring countries, Indian agencies also have much to celebrate. The drug trade in India is largely controlled by the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate, with Haji Salim leading the operations.
However, in recent times, other international players have started operating in Indian waters. El Mencho’s name came to light when the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) seized a large consignment of drugs from a fishing trawler in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on November 25, 2024. This was the first time that agencies learned that players from Mexico, in coordination with players from China, were involved in the drug trade in India.
What was unique about this seizure was the value of the narcotics being smuggled through Indian waters. The ICG seized 6,000 kg of Methamphetamine valued at Rs 6,000 crore. Officials say that narcotics of such high value can only be handled by major players. The agencies suspected that the consignment was moved by El Mencho's Jalisco New Generation drug cartel, which operates from Mexico. It was also learned that the operation was carried out in coordination with the Chinese cartel led by Tse Chi Lop, who is more famously known as Chinese El Chapo.
An official said that the agencies are already dealing with the drug cartel run by Dawood Ibrahim and the ISI. In recent months, other international cartels have started operating in Indian waters. The elimination of El Mencho is a relief for Indian agencies, as the role of international players will decrease at least for the time being, the official added.
El Mencho’s cartel is deep and wide. It has Chinese players who, in turn, have appointed people from Myanmar to oversee the operations. Another official says this is a complex racket involving three or more countries. Hence, the agencies have to deal with multiple fronts to tackle this menace.
The role of El Mencho’s cartels in the Indian context dates back to 2019, when Methamphetamine was seized from the Andaman Sea. In that operation, the cartels used six Myanmarese nationals to undertake the operation. Further, the agencies, during the course of their investigation, have found that the drugs that El Mencho’s cartel is smuggling are of very high quality in comparison to what Dawood smuggles. Hence, the demand is automatically very high, an officer explained.
Another officer explained that El Mencho, along with Chinese El Chapo, used the Andaman Sea extensively to traffic narcotics. The intended destination is not just India, but the maximum quantity was smuggled through the Indian waters into Thailand and other destinations in Southeast Asia.
India has launched a massive drive against drugs. On one hand, the agencies constantly battle the D-Syndicate and adding to the headache was the involvement of players from China and Mexico. El Mencho, a former cop born in 1966, ran the organised crime group called Jalisco New Generation Cartel. He was wanted both in the United States and Mexico. Under his command, he coordinated global drug trafficking operations.
El Mencho tied up with Chinese El Chapo to carry out operations in the Asia Pacific sector. El Chap, whose cartel is known as The Company, immigrated to Canada from China in 1988 and acquired Canadian citizenship through naturalisation.
An Intelligence Bureau official said that it was El Chapo who had a direct involvement when it came to using the Indian waters to further his narcotic trade. The tie-up with El Mencho was beneficial to him as he got high-quality drugs in large numbers. The nexus between the two cartels was so strong that together, including India, they controlled 70 per cent of the Asia-Pacific sector.
Another official explained that the death of El Mencho will slow down El Chapo’s operations, and this is a good sign for the Indian agencies. This is a big boost for the war against drugs, the official also explained.