When one of Mexico’s most powerful drug lords was killed, violence followed, but so did a flood of false stories.
After Mexican forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, social media exploded with dramatic claims. Oseguera led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a group long considered one of the country’s most dangerous criminal networks.
There were real acts of retaliation. Authorities reported roadblocks, buses set on fire, attacks on gas stations, and other unrest in several regions. Armed loyalists responded quickly after news of his death.
But online, the situation appeared far worse than reports on the ground confirmed. Posts claimed that gunmen had taken over Guadalajara International Airport. Other images showed planes in flames or smoke rising from buildings in Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination. Reuters reviewed many of these images and found they were false. Even so, they were shared tens of thousands of times.
Researchers say this wave of misinformation was not accidental. Experts believe criminal groups and accounts linked to them helped spread exaggerated or fake content. The goal was to create fear and give the impression that chaos had spread nationwide.
Jane Esberg, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who studies criminal groups and social media, told Reuters that such tactics are meant to show that the government lacks control. By shaping the online narrative, cartels can appear stronger than they actually are.
Mexican officials acknowledged the problem. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said authorities had identified several accounts pushing false claims and were investigating possible links to organized crime. President Claudia Sheinbaum also warned that many fake reports were circulating after the operation.
Experts say artificial intelligence is making misinformation easier to produce. Cartels have long used recycled videos or images from other conflicts. Now, AI tools allow them to create more convincing and creative false content.
The result is a new battlefield where perception matters as much as force. While security forces may win a raid, online propaganda can quickly shift public attention from success to fear.
