Taking out El Mencho marks a historic victory and genuine operational success that demonstrates meaningful improvements in Mexican state capacity. The operation rightfully targeted CJNG's leadership structure since the cartel's reliance on spectacular violence is organizationally embedded, and leaving such structures intact would only further a culture of impunity.
Removing cartel leaders only creates power vacuums that inevitably trigger extended periods of violence and instability, as seen after El Mayo's detention sparked a wave of violence in Sinaloa. The kingpin strategy fails because it doesn't eliminate drug markets or trafficking routes but instead redirects criminal activity while Mexican citizens suffer the blowback.
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