Mexico team quickly launches robust coverage of drug kingpin’s killing

By Megan Janetsky, Marco Ugarte, Alexis Triboulard, Fabiola Sánchez and María Verza

When reports of burning roadblocks — a signature cartel tactic — began circulating, AP’s Mexico team moved immediately. As photo stringers relayed developments, Mexico City reporter Fabiola Sánchez confirmed that Mexico’s army had killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the country’s most powerful drug lord.

By that evening, despite flight cancellations and logistical challenges, reporter Megan Janetsky, senior producer Alexis Triboulard and photographer Marco Ugarte were on the ground in Jalisco. The team quickly delivered breaking news coverage that led competitors and set the tone for reporting in the days that followed.

Throughout the week, Janetsky, Sánchez and María Verza combined forces to provide layered coverage across formats — explaining how the operation unfolded, profiling El Mencho, capturing reactions from residents in the town where the killing occurred and examining broader consequences. With input from sports reporter Carlos Rodríguez, they also explored doubts about Guadalajara’s readiness to host upcoming World Cup matches amid security concerns, and renewed focus on Jalisco’s ongoing missing persons crisis.

The result was comprehensive, contextual and multi-format coverage that dominated the news cycle, with three of AP’s top-performing stories that Monday originating from Mexico.