March 5, 2026
Reuters recently published an article featuring Rodrigo Canales, Kelli Questrom Associate Professor in Management & Organizations, discussing how the killing of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera has elevated Mexico’s security chief, Omar García Harfuch, into a central role in the country’s intensified crackdown on organized crime.
The operation carried deep personal significance for Harfuch, who survived a 2020 assassination attempt linked to Oseguera’s cartel. That experience has shaped his increasingly aggressive security posture under President Claudia Sheinbaum, while also fueling speculation about his emergence as a potential presidential contender.
At the same time, analysts note that Oseguera’s death has contributed to renewed violence and raised broader questions about Mexico’s long-term security strategy and Harfuch’s record.
As Canales observes, Harfuch’s rise has been closely tied to his relationship with the president: “He has Claudia’s absolute trust and earned it by being extremely loyal and effective in key moments early in her mayorship.”
