Family members of Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes buried him in a golden casket on Monday. The ceremony took place in Jalisco state near Guadalajara. Officials confirmed the burial at a cemetery in Zapopan.
Burial Occurs in Cartel Stronghold
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel for years. Subsequently, he died in late February after Mexican special forces wounded him during an operation to capture him. As a result, his family arranged the funeral at Recinto de Paz cemetery in the cartel’s home region.
Funeral Draws Colorful Tributes
Mourners carried large floral arrangements to the site. In addition, one tribute took the shape of a rooster to honor his love of cockfighting. Furthermore, several vehicles and five lorries transported the flowers. Moreover, many tributes arrived anonymously.
Meanwhile, a band played ranchero music and narcocorridos during the procession. Local media reported that the traditional song “El Muchacho Alegre (The Cheerful Boy)” played as the gold-coloured coffin arrived at the chapel inside the cemetery grounds. Consequently, the ceremony lasted one hour. After that, mourners followed the coffin to the grave. Additionally, many wore face masks to conceal their identities.
Security Forces Prevent Violence
Furthermore, members of the National Guard deployed in large numbers around the cemetery. They aimed to stop any outbreaks of violence linked to the cartel. As a result, no incidents occurred during the event.
Death Sparked Retaliatory Attacks
Consequently, the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes triggered widespread unrest. In the days after his death, cartel members set fire to vehicles and blockaded roads across 20 Mexican states. Moreover, authorities viewed the operation as a major success against organised crime. In addition, the United States had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
