A nearly decade-old audio recording, believed to feature the voice of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — also known as El Mencho, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and one of Mexico’s most-wanted fugitives — has been circulating widely on social media following recent reports of his death.

In the recording, the voice believed to be El Mencho’s can be clearly heard demanding that a police official order his units to immediately withdraw from the area, using threatening language that underscores the power he once wielded. At one point, he says, “Tell your sons of b**es to fall back right now,” and goes on to warn that if the forces do not comply, he will attack them and even kill their dogs.

The police officer on the other end responds in a compliant tone, saying he will relay the message to his units — a reaction that highlights the level of influence and fear the cartel allegedly imposed on law enforcement at the time.

Although the audio has been known since it first surfaced in 2016, it has regained attention after El Mencho was reportedly killed in a recent Mexican military operation, drawing renewed interest from social media users and international media outlets.

The clip’s resurgence has reignited debate over the power of drug cartels in Mexico and their impact on the country’s security forces and political landscape.