GUADALAJARA — The decade-long reign of Mexico’s most elusive and ruthless drug kingpin has come to a violent end. Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the infamous leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) known as “El Mencho,” was killed Sunday, February 22, 2026, during a precision military operation in the mountain town of Tapalpa, Jalisco.
The mission, carried out by Mexican Special Forces with critical intelligence support from the United States, targeted Oseguera at a known stronghold. According to Mexico’s Ministry of Defense, El Mencho was critically wounded during a heavy exchange of gunfire and succumbed to his injuries while being airlifted to Mexico City for emergency treatment.
Narco-Retaliation: A State Under Siege
The death of the 59-year-old kingpin immediately triggered a scorched-earth response from CJNG loyalists. By Sunday evening, Jalisco and neighboring states were plunged into a “Code Red” security alert as cartel operatives paralyzed key infrastructure:
- Tactical Blockades: Gunmen hijacked and torched buses and cargo trucks to establish at least 29 major roadblocks across Guadalajara, Zapopan, and Puerto Vallarta.
- Aviation Paralysis: Chaos erupted at Guadalajara International Airport, where panicked travelers fled across the tarmac amid reports of gunmen near the terminal. Puerto Vallarta (PVR) suspended all operations after burning vehicles made access roads impassable.
- Regional Spreading: Retaliatory arson and clashes were reported in over 15 states, including Guanajuato, Colima, and Michoacán, with more than 70 coordinated attacks targeting banks and convenience stores.
International Alarm and Casualties
The fallout has transcended borders, prompting immediate emergency advisories from foreign governments. The U.S. State Department issued a “shelter-in-place” order for Americans in Jalisco and several northern states, while Air Canada and major U.S. carriers suspended flights to the region.
The cost of the operation has been high. Beyond the death of Oseguera and six cartel associates, authorities confirmed that at least eight security personnel—including seven members of the National Guard—lost their lives in the initial raid and subsequent clashes. As of Monday morning, over 100 arrests have been made as thousands of additional troops deploy to regain control of the streets.
The Power Vacuum: What Follows El Mencho?
For years, El Mencho was the world’s most wanted man, with a $15 million bounty on his head. His death marks the most significant blow to organized crime since the capture of “El Chapo” Guzmán, yet analysts warn of a “bloody transition.”
“The decapitation of the CJNG creates a massive power vacuum,” noted one regional security analyst. “The cartel may now fracture into warring factions, or a new, equally ruthless successor could emerge. This is a victory for the state, but the security crisis is far from over.”
As of February 23, 2026, the streets of Guadalajara remain eerily quiet under heavy military patrol. While the government celebrates the fall of a titan, a nation waits to see if the end of El Mencho’s era signals the beginning of an even more volatile chapter in the Mexican drug war.
Mexico City SSP Auxilary Police Picture by Paul Sableman
