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By: Manoah Kikekon
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| El Mencho and the burnt Buss |
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — In a seismic shift for global counternarcotics efforts, Mexican security forces have killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Better known as “El Mencho,” the 59-year-old kingpin was the primary target of a high-stakes military operation on Sunday, February 22, 2026, in the mountain town of Tapalpa, Jalisco.
His death marks the end of a decades-long pursuit for one of the world's most ruthless drug lords.
The mission, executed by Mexican Special Forces with intelligence support from the United States, turned the picturesque town of Tapalpa into a battlefield. According to the Mexican Secretariat of National Defence (SEDENA), troops were met with heavy resistance from elite cartel gunmen.
During the exchange, four cartel members were killed on-site. El Mencho was seriously wounded in the fray and reportedly died from his injuries while being airlifted to Mexico City for medical treatment and identification.
The confirmation of El Mencho’s death immediately triggered a violent backlash across western Mexico. CJNG henchmen deployed a "scorched earth" strategy, setting fire to buses and trucks to create narco-blockades on major highways.
In Guadalajara, the state capital, residents described the city as a "ghost town" as civilians sought shelter. The unrest extended to the tourist hub of Puerto Vallarta, where burning vehicles blocked access to the airport, prompting several international airlines including United and Air Canada to suspend flights.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the nation via social media, acknowledging the military's success while calling for public order. “There is absolute coordination with the governments of all states,” Sheinbaum stated, urging citizens to remain calm and follow official channels.
The administration has activated a "Code Red" security alert in several states, mobilizing the National Guard and Army to prevent a total security vacuum as rival factions potentially move to seize CJNG territory.
The fall of El Mencho is being hailed as a historic milestone in the fight against the fentanyl crisis. Under his leadership, the CJNG became a dominant force, pioneering the use of weaponized drones and improvised mines.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau lauded the operation on X (formerly Twitter), calling it a “great development for the world.” The U.S. had previously offered a $15 million reward for Oseguera, who was a central figure in the trafficking of synthetic opioids across the northern border.
While the "decapitation" of the CJNG is a tactical triumph, security analysts warn of a bloody succession war. The cartel’s decentralized structure means that regional commanders may now fight for control, or the weakened group could face incursions from its arch-rival, the Sinaloa Cartel. For now, schools remain closed in several Mexican states as the government maintains a heavy military presence to suppress further retaliatory violence.