At least 25 members of the Mexican National Guard have been killed in a riot that erupted after the killing of El Mencho, the leader of a major drug cartel, by government forces.

The Mexican government has deployed thousands of troops to quell the unrest that has raged since the weekend.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho,” was captured in a shootout with Mexican special forces on Sunday.

Mexican Defense Minister Ricardo Treviño said El Mencho was captured after security forces tracked down his girlfriend, who was supposed to meet him.

He was shot and killed in a shootout between guards and police while being taken to the capital, Mexico City, where he was being held.

At least six of his bodyguards were killed in the operation to capture him, the country's defense ministry said. Three government soldiers were also wounded, the ministry said.

El Mencho, who led Mexico's most feared drug cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was the country's most wanted man. The US government had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.