A US-backed military operation has resulted in the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” one of Mexico’s most wanted drug lords. Mexican special forces located and killed him during a raid in the southern part of Jalisco state. In the immediate aftermath, violence erupted across at least 20 Mexican states, with armed groups torching vehicles, setting up roadblocks and attacking security forces. Authorities reported multiple fatalities, including members of the National Guard, as clashes spread to regions such as Jalisco, Michoacan and Guanajuato.
El Mencho, 59, led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organisations. Founded around 2009, the cartel rapidly expanded its operations beyond drug trafficking to include fuel theft, extortion and financial scams. US authorities, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, identified the CJNG alongside the Sinaloa Cartel as a primary trafficker of fentanyl into the United States. Washington had offered a $15m reward for information leading to El Mencho’s capture, underscoring his status as a top priority target.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that the operation was carried out by federal forces, while the White House stated that US intelligence support played a role. Analysts note that bilateral security cooperation in high-profile cartel cases is not new, but the scale of violence following El Mencho’s death highlights the risks inherent in targeting cartel leadership. The CJNG has a history of direct confrontation with the state, including shooting down a military helicopter in 2015 and attempting to assassinate senior officials.
In the short term, the killing may strengthen Mexico’s position in negotiations with US President Donald Trump, whose administration has pressed for tougher action against drug cartels. However, experts warn that dismantling leadership can create power vacuums, potentially triggering internal violence and retaliatory attacks. While public opinion appears broadly supportive of decisive action against organised crime,the longer-term impact will depend on whether authorities can combine enforcement with sustained intelligence cooperation, institutional reform and broader social and economic strategies to reduce cartel influence.
Referencias:
Shamim, S. (2026, February 23). Who was El Mencho? What drug lord’s killing means for Mexico. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/23/who-was-el-mencho-what-drug-lords-killing-means-for-mexico