The expert suggested the involvement of the United States in the murder of the head of a drug cartel in Mexico

The United States may be involved in an operation by the Mexican armed forces to eliminate the head of one of Mexico's largest drug cartels, the Jalisco New Generation, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho. This opinion was expressed by retired U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Earl Rasmussen in an interview with Izvestia on February 23.

At the same time, according to the expert, US President Donald Trump will award himself the credit for eliminating the drug lord.

"Was there pressure from the United States to kill him or make him a target? The United States has put a $15 million bounty on his head, which is a tenth of what Mexico offered.<...> Will Trump take credit for being pressured to remove him? Yes, absolutely. Trump takes credit for almost everything, regardless of whether he was responsible for it or not," Rasmussen said.

Despite the destruction of El Mancho, the drug traffickers will have a new leader.

"The CJNG [Jalisco New Generation cartel] will have new leaders who will take El Mencho's place. There will be a struggle inside. Perhaps there will be a temporary fragmentation," the lieutenant colonel explained.

At the same time, the elimination of El Mancho will not affect the reduction of drug trafficking in the Latin American region.

"Will this affect the drug trade? Probably not. <...> There is a demand for this in the USA. If you don't do anything about demand, you won't really affect the drug trade...> We need to shut down the source, which is the United States," Rasmussen stressed.

In this regard, for a real solution to the problem, the expert recommended reducing the demand for such goods inside the United States, rather than creating an imaginary threat to neighboring countries.

Riots broke out in Mexico after the elimination of drug lord El Mencho. What is known

Nemecio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, the head of one of Mexico's largest drug cartels, the Jalisco New Generation, was announced on February 22. It is noted that the liquidation was carried out by units of the country's armed forces. In response to the actions of the security forces, cartel members began blocking highways in several regions, including the states of Jalisco, Michoacan, Colima, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato and Aguascalientes.

Later, riots broke out in Mexico. Criminal gangs began blocking roads and setting cars on fire, trying to interfere with the operation of law enforcement agencies. In the state of Jalisco, armed men broke into the airport of Puerto Vallarta.

It was noted that at least 240 Russian tourists are in the Mexican city of Puerto Vallarta. An eyewitness described the situation as "scary and critical."

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