felixnews.com – The Mexican government killed the country’s most powerful cartel leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, in a military operation in Jalisco State on Sunday (February 22, 2026) local time. The death of this top US fugitive sparked a wave of violence across Mexico.
The operation, targeting the Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader, was described as the biggest blow to the drug network since the recapture of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán a decade ago.
Following El Mencho’s death, armed groups suspected of being part of the cartel retaliated. Vehicles were set on fire and used to block roads in at least 20 states. Thick smoke billowed over several cities, while residents of Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city, chose to stay home. Several schools were also closed as security forces were put on alert nationwide. The Guatemalan government also tightened security along the border with Mexico.
This decisive step is seen as strengthening the Mexican government’s position in its relations with the United States, especially after US President Donald Trump previously threatened to impose tariffs or even unilateral military action if Mexico failed to show progress in combating drug cartels.
The Figure of El Mencho and His Cartel Expansion
Oseguera Cervantes (59) is from Michoacán and has been involved in organized crime for over 30 years. In 1994, he was convicted in the United States for heroin trafficking and served three years in prison.
Around 2009, he founded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which has since grown rapidly into one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations. This cartel is known for smuggling cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the US, as well as engaging in human trafficking.
The group is also known for innovative violent tactics, including the use of drones and improvised explosives. In 2015, they shot down a Mexican military helicopter in Jalisco. The cartel also attempted to assassinate a top Mexican security official, Omar García Harfuch, who is now the federal security secretary.
In addition to narcotics, the cartel generates revenue from fuel theft, extortion, and timeshare property fraud.
The Mexican Ministry of Defense stated that the operation, conducted in the southern region of Jalisco, involved the air force and special forces. In the shootout, four cartel members were killed and three others wounded.
El Mencho suffered serious injuries and died while being flown to Mexico City. Three soldiers were reportedly injured and two people were arrested during the operation. Authorities also seized a rocket launcher capable of downing aircraft and destroying armored vehicles.
El Mencho faces several charges in the United States. The US State Department even offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture. The Trump administration previously designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau praised the operation via social media. Meanwhile, former DEA chief of international operations Mike Vigil considered Mexico’s move a “strong message” to Washington that the country is serious and aggressive in combating drug cartels.
However, several analysts believe the long-term impact of El Mencho’s death on Mexico’s security stability remains uncertain.