El Mencho’s country villa isn’t as lavish as you’d think for a feared drugs kingpin

Cartel head Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Osguera Cervantes was shot dead in his country home hideout on Sunday, sparking violence across Mexico.

But for a drug kingpin who oversaw a multibillion-dollar cartel, the house where he took his final stand is rather ordinary.

The home, in a residential suburb of southern Jalisco, is right outside the town of Tapalpa.

He was shot after fleeing the home with his security detail into a nearby wooded area, before dying of his injuries on a helicopter to Mexico City for treatment.

The two-story home, with modern architecture, was nestled far away from the hustle and bustle of the nearby town of Tapalpa, Milenio reported.

Inside the home, a bedroom with a king mattress and ‘meticulously’ organised clothing, toiletries, and other belongings sat undisturbed.

It appears the hardened criminal liked the luxurious things in life as well – large chandeliers, a fully stocked kitchen and leather couches were photographed in the home as well.

One table had photos of Saint Jude Thaddeus and the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Patroness of Mexico – a symbol of resilience in the home of the now-dead cartel leader.

El Mencho

The home also had three other bedrooms, a large garden connecting to a hillside and further religious symbols in the yard.

One bedroom had a handwritten portion of Psalm 91, dated to January 25, reading: ‘Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.’

The home was not completely spotless, though – one room contained dozens of black rubbish bags scattered about.

A garbage bin in the back garden showed blood pooled on the tile below, with shards of wood and tile from the shootout with government authorities.

One neighbour told Menio that the subdivision is filled with homes rented by tourists in Tapalpa.

She was unsure if El Mencho stayed in the home often, and it remains unclear if he actually owned the home or rented it.

After the death of El Mencho, there could be some infighting for who takes the title of leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

‘La Jefa’ – which translates to ‘the boss’ – is Rosalinda González Valencia, 63, the ex-wife of El Mencho, and is believed to be in the fray of developments due to her ongoing role in the cartel.

El Mencho, who shares three children with his ex-wife, had been linked to other romantic partners after his split from Valencia in 2018.

One of these children is Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez – known as ‘La Negra’, who has previously been jailed for money laundering.

Both Jessica and her mum have kept lower profiles after being jailed briefly for laundering money for the cartel.

Now, there are suggestions that Valencia could be poised to take over the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, given her decades of experience in money laundering and her work alongside her ex-husband.

Valencia was no stranger to the world of crime, being the niece of cartel leader ‘El Maradona’, who founded the Milenio cartel – which eventually split to form what’s now known as the Jalicso New Generation Cartel.

If ‘La Jefa’ and her daughter, ‘La Negra’, join forces, they could become some of the most powerful ‘narco queens’ in Mexico.