El mencho leader CJNG killed in Mexico
Courtesy/AliciaCivita

Ruben Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho" and longtime leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, wasn't able to be constantly on the move and avoid law enforcement because he had a late-stage kidney disease, according to a new report.

Citing people familiar with his activity, the LA Times detailed that El Mencho needed daily dialysis, preventing him from having the same kind of movement as other high-profile fugitives.

The operation began taking shape after a public official suspected of having close ties to the Jalisco cartel was arrested earlier this month. He provided leads that helped intelligence officials determine the drug lord's potential location.

General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo explained that Mexican forces effectively managed to locate El Mencho after tracking down a lover of his. He said that military intelligence managed to locate a man close to one of El Mencho's lovers, allowing them to determine his location. Once the person left the premise, officers confirmed that El Mencho stayed there. Forces then moved on to detain him, engaging in a shootout with cartel operatives there.

More than a dozen special forces operatives were dropped by helicopter near the compound. El Mencho had hosted a party the night before and his security detail was not on high alert, the LA Times added.

Overall, the operation involved six planes, including some warplanes able to carry missiles. One of the helicopters involved in the mission had to make an emergency landing after being targeted by operatives.

El Mencho tried to escape while leaving a group of operatives behind to slow down government forces. He made it to a nearby wood, but forces pinned him down and wounded him. El Mencho was taken to a helicopter heading to Mexico City, but he died on the way.

His family has put a request to retrieve his body after his killing. Bureaucracy regarding the request is ongoing, authorities said, noting that all steps must be fulfilled before any delivery can take place.

Infobae noted that the only relatives who can request to retrieve a body are a spouse, children or siblings. They must prove that they are related to the person with official documentation either by themselves or through a legal representative. They have chosen to do so through a lawyer.

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