What Next | Daily News and Analysis Mexico’s Cartel War
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Feb 25, 2026 León Krauze, Mexican journalist and Washington Post columnist who reports on politics and organized crime. He recounts El Mencho’s rise and the raid that killed him. He examines cartel retaliation, U.S.–Mexico intelligence cooperation, and the political pressures shaping security policy. He outlines structural barriers like corruption and judicial change.
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How El Mencho Built A Cartel Empire
- El Mencho became a mythic, central leader who turned CJNG into Mexico's most menacing cartel.
- León Krauze describes members as 'Los Hombres del Señor Mencho' who worshipped him and created a cohesive, ruthless organization dominating violence in Mexico.
Killing A Boss Sparks Immediate Wave Of Violence
- After El Mencho's death CJNG retaliated with roadblocks, arson, and killed two dozen National Guard members, showing the cartel remains capable of large-scale violence.
- Mary Harris and León Krauze highlight cities turning into near war zones as deputies and rivals react.
El Mencho's Unlikely Path From Avocados To Power
- El Mencho's background spanned avocado fields, U.S. emigration, crimes, deportation, and briefly serving as a police officer in Jalisco.
- León Krauze recounts this arc to show how poverty, migration, and local policing mixed into his rise and corruption skills.