MEXICO CITY, Feb. 22, 2026 — Mexican security forces have killed one of the country’s most notorious cartel leaders, Nemesio Oseguera, widely known as “El Mencho,” in a high-profile military operation that has triggered retaliatory violence across multiple states.
Oseguera, 60, led the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and was among the most wanted figures in Mexico and the United States. According to Mexico’s Defense Ministry, he died in custody after being injured during a raid carried out by Mexican special forces in the town of Tapalpa, located in Jalisco state on the country’s Pacific coast.
His body was transported to Mexico City under heavy National Guard security on Sunday afternoon.
U.S. Intelligence Support Confirmed
The operation reportedly involved intelligence assistance from the United States. Reuters previously reported that a new U.S.-military-led task force contributed to the raid, which was led and executed by Mexican forces.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed on social media that the U.S. provided intelligence support. She added that the Trump administration commended the Mexican military for what she described as a successful operation.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau called the killing a “great development” for both nations and the broader Latin American region.
In the hours following reports of Oseguera’s death, suspected cartel members launched coordinated acts of retaliation. Highways were blocked with burning vehicles, and businesses were set ablaze in more than half a dozen states. Authorities reported no confirmed civilian deaths.
In the popular beach destination of Puerto Vallarta, tourists described scenes of smoke rising over the bay and widespread disruption. Several major airlines, including Air Canada, United Airlines, Aeromexico, and American Airlines, temporarily suspended flights to the region.
Schools in several states canceled classes as a precaution, while federal officials sought to reassure the public that most areas of the country remained operational.
From Police Officer to Cartel Kingpin
A former police officer, Oseguera founded CJNG and oversaw its rapid rise into one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations. Named after Jalisco state, home to the city of Guadalajara, the cartel expanded aggressively in recent years.
Under his leadership, CJNG diversified beyond drug trafficking into fuel theft, extortion, human smuggling, and financial crimes. The group also became known for adopting advanced tactics, including the use of drones in attacks in remote regions of western Mexico.
The cartel has been heavily implicated in the production and smuggling of fentanyl into the United States, contributing to mounting political pressure on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to intensify anti-cartel efforts.
Political and Security Implications
The operation marks one of Mexico’s most significant blows against organized crime in recent years. It follows the earlier captures of rival Joaquin Guzman and Ismael Zambada of the Sinaloa Cartel, both now imprisoned in the United States.
While Washington praised the outcome, the violence that followed underscores the delicate balance facing Sheinbaum’s administration. She has pledged stronger cooperation with the U.S. in combating drug trafficking while firmly defending Mexico’s sovereignty and rejecting any unilateral foreign military action on Mexican soil.
Security analysts warn that Oseguera’s death could fracture CJNG’s leadership structure, potentially leading to prolonged internal power struggles.
“There will definitely be clashes between various factions,” said Carlos Olivo, a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration official and CJNG expert. “These waves of violence could persist for years.”
