Mexico City, February 23, 2026 — In a significant blow to one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho,” the longtime leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed during a high-profile military operation on Sunday, February 22, in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco state.
According to Mexico’s Ministry of Defense, special forces launched the raid to capture Oseguera Cervantes, 59, who had evaded authorities for years and was considered one of the world’s most wanted drug traffickers. The operation, supported by U.S. intelligence, involved the Mexican Army and Air Force. During the ensuing firefight with his bodyguards, Oseguera was seriously wounded and died en route to Mexico City via air transport for medical treatment.
Several of his security personnel were also killed in the clash, with reports varying between six and eight cartel members dead.The killing marks one of the most consequential actions against Mexican organized crime since the recapture of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán a decade ago. Oseguera, who founded and led the CJNG — notorious for its aggressive expansion, fentanyl trafficking, and extreme violence — had a multi-million-dollar bounty on his head from both Mexican and U.S. authorities.
The operation triggered immediate and widespread retaliation from CJNG affiliates. Cartel gunmen erected burning road blockades (known as “narco-bloqueos”), torched vehicles and businesses, and clashed with security forces across multiple states, including Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, and others — with unrest reported in at least a dozen to 20 regions.
In Jalisco, particularly around Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, scenes of chaos included blazing buses and cars blocking highways, shattered storefronts, and increased military presence. Authorities confirmed at least 25 National Guard members killed in separate retaliatory attacks in Jalisco alone. Overall fatalities from the operation and its aftermath reached at least 73, including security personnel, suspected cartel members, and civilians.
President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the nation, urging calm and assuring that federal forces were restoring order while emphasizing ongoing efforts to maintain “peace, security, and normalcy.” Schools were suspended in affected areas, travel disruptions occurred — including at airports and tourist zones like Puerto Vallarta — and U.S. citizens were advised to shelter in place amid the unrest.
The violence has raised concerns about a potential power vacuum within the CJNG, which could lead to internal fractures or escalated conflicts with rival groups. Security experts warn that the cartel’s history of using explosive drones and other advanced tactics may complicate stabilization efforts.As of Monday evening, authorities reported regaining partial control in key areas, though tensions remain high and the situation continues to evolve. The government has vowed to intensify operations against organized crime while protecting civilian safety.