Rs 6,000 crore drug trail: How El Mencho’s cartel reached Indian waters and why his death brings relief for India

Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, appears in undated photographs in a wanted poster on the U.S. Department of State website with a $15 million reward offered for information leading to his arrest.

The killing of Mexican drug lord El Mencho disrupts a major cartel linked to India’s maritime drug trade. His death is seen as a relief by Indian agencies, weakening the China-Mexico nexus and boosting India’s fight against international narcotics syndicates.

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The killing of Mexican drug lord Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, better known as El Mencho, has triggered violence across several Mexican states and prompted travel advisories from India, the United States and Canada. While the immediate fallout has been concentrated in Mexico, Indian security agencies view his death as a significant development in their own fight against international narcotics syndicates.

El Mencho headed the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the world’s most powerful criminal organisations. Indian agencies had already identified his cartel as an emerging threat to India’s maritime security and drug control efforts.

How El Mencho entered India’s radar

El Mencho’s name surfaced prominently in India after a major seizure by the Indian Coast Guard in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on November 25, 2024.

In that operation, authorities intercepted a fishing trawler and seized 6,000 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at Rs 6,000 crore. Officials described it as one of the largest drug seizures ever made in Indian waters.

According to investigators, the scale and quality of the consignment suggested the involvement of a global cartel.

“This was the first time agencies learnt that players from Mexico, in coordination with players from China, were part of the drug trade in India,” an official said, according to IANS.

Investigators suspected that the shipment was moved by El Mencho’s cartel, working alongside a Chinese syndicate.

China-Mexico nexus and the ‘Chinese El Chapo’

Indian agencies believe El Mencho partnered with Tse Chi Lop, often referred to as the “Chinese El Chapo”.

Tse Chi Lop leads a cartel known as The Company, which dominates large parts of the Asia Pacific narcotics trade. Born in China, he immigrated to Canada in 1988 and later acquired Canadian citizenship.

“El Mencho tied up with Chinese El Chapo to carry out operations in the Asia Pacific sector,” an Intelligence Bureau official told IANS.

According to officials, this partnership allowed Tse Chi Lop access to high-quality drugs in large quantities, while El Mencho gained entry into Asian maritime routes.

Why Indian waters were crucial

Indian waters, particularly the Andaman Sea, became a key transit zone for these cartels.

Another official explained to IANS that El Mencho and Tse Chi Lop “used the Andaman Sea extensively to traffic narcotics”.

“The intended destination is not just India. The maximum quantity was smuggled through Indian waters into Thailand and other destinations in Southeast Asia,” the official said.

Investigations also revealed that the cartels relied on operatives from Myanmar to manage parts of the operation.

“The El Mencho run cartel has Chinese players who, in turn, have appointed people from Myanmar to oversee operations,” another official said. “This is a complex racket involving three or more countries.”

Why the drugs mattered

Indian agencies found that drugs supplied by El Mencho’s cartel were of unusually high purity.

“During the investigation, we found that the drugs smuggled by El Mencho’s cartel are of very high quality compared to what Dawood smuggles. Hence the demand is automatically very high,” an officer said, according to IANS.

This made the cartel particularly dangerous, as high quality narcotics command premium prices and attract organised distribution networks.

Impact on existing drug networks

India’s narcotics trade has traditionally been dominated by the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate, with figures such as Haji Salim managing operations. These networks are believed to operate with backing from Pakistan’s intelligence agencies.

However, the arrival of Mexican and Chinese cartels added a new layer of complexity.

“Agencies are already on their toes handling the narcotics cartel run by Dawood Ibrahim and the ISI,” an official told IANS. “In recent months, other international cartels began operating in Indian waters.”

Why El Mencho’s death is a relief for India

Indian officials believe El Mencho’s killing will disrupt this emerging nexus, at least in the short term.

“The elimination of El Mencho comes as a relief to Indian agencies as the role of international players will decrease at least for the time being,” an official said.

Another senior officer added that the development would directly affect Tse Chi Lop’s operations.

“The death of El Mencho will slow down Chinese El Chapo’s operations, and this is a good sign for Indian agencies. This is a big boost for the war against drugs,” the officer said, as quoted by IANS.

A cautious sense of relief

While agencies acknowledge that global drug networks are resilient and quick to adapt, El Mencho’s death removes a key architect of transnational narcotics trafficking.

For India, it offers a rare strategic advantage in a long and complex battle against drugs that now stretches far beyond its borders.