In the immediate aftermath of the killing of Mexico’s most wanted drug lord, the country was confronted not only with a surge of retaliatory violence but also with a parallel wave of disinformation that spread rapidly across social media, according to Reuters.
The death of Nemesio Oseguera, widely known as “El Mencho” and head of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), triggered coordinated unrest across large parts of the country. Yet as security forces struggled to contain arson attacks, roadblocks and armed assaults, a second battle unfolded online, where fabricated images and exaggerated accounts of chaos circulated at remarkable speed.
Following the military operation that killed El Mencho on Sunday, loyalists to the cartel mounted a campaign of reprisals. Across at least 20 of Mexico’s 32 states, vehicles were set ablaze, businesses and petrol stations were attacked and highways were blocked. Authorities reported that at least 73 people lost their lives in the unrest, among them 25 members of the Mexican National Guard killed in six separate attacks. Around 10,000 soldiers were deployed nationwide in an effort to restore order.
In the Pacific resort city of Puerto Vallarta, located in the state of Jalisco — long considered the cartel’s stronghold — gunmen roamed the streets, setting fires and openly carrying weapons. Tourists were advised to remain indoors as security forces attempted to stabilise the situation.
Amid the turmoil, an armed assault on the Centro Integral de Justicia Regional prison in Puerto Vallarta underscored the volatility of the moment. Attackers rammed a vehicle through the facility’s gate and opened fire, Mexican officials confirmed.
The breach sparked a riot inside the prison, further complicating the security response. One guard was killed in the violence. By Monday, a head count revealed that 23 inmates had escaped. A manhunt was launched, while authorities stated that order had been restored and that the prison was again operating under reinforced security. Reinforcements requested from outside the region had been delayed by road conditions affected by the unrest.
While the violence on the streets was real, the situation appeared even more dramatic online. Social media platforms were flooded with alarming claims, including reports that Guadalajara airport had been seized by assassins, that an aircraft was ablaze on the runway, and that smoke was pouring from a church and multiple buildings in Puerto Vallarta. Images purporting to show these events were shared tens of thousands of times.
Misinformation frequently proliferates in the wake of major news events, particularly in an era shaped by artificial intelligence. In this case, however, researchers said the speed and coordination of the false narratives suggested a deliberate strategy. According to experts, some of the misleading content was not only circulated by ordinary users but in certain instances by accounts linked to organised crime groups themselves.
“They are trying to show that the Mexican government doesn’t have control over the country,” said Jane Esberg, assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania, who has studied how Mexican criminal groups use social media.
She noted that the tactic contributed to a perception that the cartel maintained a nationwide presence, while at the same time making it difficult to assess the true scale of the violence confronting security forces.
When asked about cartel-linked social media accounts spreading false information, Mexican Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch said authorities had identified “various accounts” and would conduct further investigations to determine which had “direct relationships with an organised crime group”.
President Claudia Sheinbaum likewise addressed the surge of fabricated reports, stating that officials were working swiftly to counter disinformation and that there were “many, many fake news stories” circulating after the killing.
Cartels, AI and battle for narrative control
The use of social media by Mexican criminal organisations is not new. For years, cartels have sought to shape public perception by attacking rivals, promoting their own activities and, at times, publicising community initiatives such as distributing aid during the coronavirus pandemic.
Traditionally, much of the false material involved recycled footage from previous years or violent images drawn from unrelated conflicts abroad.
Researchers say that the emergence of AI-generated content has expanded these capabilities, enabling more sophisticated and convincing fabrications. At the same time, so-called narco influencers — social media personalities who cultivate large followings while glorifying or promoting organised crime — have provided additional channels through which narratives can be amplified.
Pablo Calderon, an associate professor in politics and international relations at Northeastern University London, observed that cartels exploit digital platforms to project strength and influence public opinion.
“Sunday was a good day for Mexican security forces,” he said. “But organised crime has been successful in shifting the narrative, away from the [military raid] to chaos.”
Such campaigns can have an outsized impact in Mexico, where high levels of violence often limit journalists’ ability to report directly from affected areas. The resulting information gaps make it harder to separate fact from fiction. Esberg and other analysts cautioned that establishing definitive links between specific accounts and cartel structures remains challenging, even when patterns suggest coordination.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, founded in 2009, has grown into one of Mexico’s most powerful and fastest-expanding criminal organisations. In the wake of its leader’s death, it demonstrated both its capacity for violence and its aptitude for manipulating the information environment.
As security forces continue their operations and pursue the escaped inmates, the struggle is unfolding not only on the streets but also in the digital sphere, where perception can be as consequential as events themselves.
