Raid on Mexican cartel boss 'El Mencho' occurred after visit from romantic partner

The raid on Jalisco New Generation Cartel boss Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes occurred after he was visited by a romantic partner, according to Mexican authorities.

Oseguera Cervantes died on Sunday in a helicopter after being injured in a Mexican special forces operation in a wooded area outside the town of Tapalpa in the western state of Jalisco, according to Mexico's defense ministry, Reuters reported.

Mexican Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla said information from a confidante of one of Oseguera Cervantes' romantic partners helped officials quickly plan the raid for the following day at the crime boss's compound.

During the military raid, Oseguera Cervantes' gunmen opened fire on Mexican security forces, and the conflict moved to a cabin complex in a wooded area, where he was injured along with two of his bodyguards. All three of them were transported by helicopter to Mexico City but did not survive.

"Unfortunately, they died on the way," Trevilla said during Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's daily press conference.

According to Mexican officials, U.S. intelligence was used to help pinpoint the exact location of the Tapalpa compound, but Mexico led the operation.

"There was no participation in this operation of U.S. forces. What there was, was an exchange of information," Sheinbaum said.