A soldier stands guard by a charred vehicle that was set on fire in Cointzio, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, amid reports the Mexican Army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho.”
TAPALPA, Mexico — On Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, the Mexican army carried out an operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, that resulted in the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
“El Mencho,” whose real name is Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (FBI via Getty Images)
Oseguera Cervantes, globally known as “El Mencho,” was a former police officer who built a massive organized crime empire. Under his leadership, the CJNG became a primary distributor of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States.
While the operation was intended to result in an arrest, a violent clash broke out. Oseguera Cervantes was seriously injured during the firefight and died while being transported by air to Mexico City. Four other CJNG members were killed in the raid, while three soldiers sustained injuries. U.S. authorities were not physically involved in the mission but provided critical intelligence leading to the location.
Following the announcement of his death, the cartel launched a wave of retaliatory violence. Authorities identified more than 250 blockades across 20 states, characterized by hijacked vehicles being engulfed in flames to paralyze transit. Multiple shootouts between police and gunmen have been reported, though total casualty figures remain unconfirmed.
The unrest prompted the U.S. Embassy and other diplomatic missions to release shelter-in-place orders for citizens in Mexico. Dozens of flights were canceled, and schools in several states have suspended classes.
President Claudia Sheinbaum deployed 2,500 reinforcement soldiers to the hardest-hit regions. During a briefing on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, she urged for calm.
“El Mencho,” whose real name is Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Raquel Cunha )
“Today there is greater calm. The public can rest assured that peace, security, and normalcy are being safeguarded across the country,” Sheinbaum said. “There is government, there are armed forces, there is a security cabinet, and there is a lot of coordination.”
The death of El Mencho leaves a significant power vacuum within the cartel. His son is currently imprisoned in the United States, and with no clear successor, security experts predict a violent internal power struggle or the fragmentation of the group. Such transitions historically correlate with a spike in homicide rates.
Amid the physical violence, the CJNG has also turned to digital propaganda. Images of airports with burning tarmacs and planes have circulated widely on social media but were later debunked as fake news intended to spread fear.
“These images, which were reviewed by Reuters, were false but shared tens of thousands of times,” according to reports on the disinformation campaign.
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Senior Dalton Lopez is a staff writer for The Golden Report and serves as the Photography Editor for The Hernando Yearbook. Actively involved in both school and community activities, Dalton is a member of Compel Church, participates in Prom Promise, and competes on the Archery Team. Passionate about visual storytelling, Dalton enjoys photography and filming, as well as studying history in his free time. After high school, he plans to pursue a career in journalism, continuing his passion for capturing and reporting meaningful stories.
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