Mexico’s army has killed the country’s most dangerous drug lord, Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes alias El Mencho. He was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which is notorious for smuggling fentanyl and other drugs into the US. The operation took place on February 22, 2026, near Tapalpa, a mountainous area in Jalisco state, where American intelligence and surveillance of El Mencho’s girlfriend revealed his whereabouts.
Agencies caught Mencho after following his girlfriend
Mexico’s Defense Minister General Ricardo Trevila told the complete details of the operation in a press conference on 23 February 2026. Trevila said Mexican military intelligence had begun surveillance of a close associate of El Mencho’s girlfriend. On February 20, 2026, this associate took the woman to a rural compound in Tapalpa, where El Mencho had come to meet.
The woman spent the night with El Mencho and left on February 21, but El Mencho and his bodyguards remained. The whereabouts were revealed through additional information received from American Intelligence. The next day Mexican forces surrounded the compound. The cartel’s gunmen started firing and ran towards the jungle with El Mencho. El Mencho was seriously injured in the clash. He was being taken to a medical facility by helicopter, but he died on the way. Two bodyguards were also killed. “Unfortunately, he died on the way,” Trevilla said.
Mencho was in the most wanted list of America-Mexico
This operation was completely carried out by Mexican forces. President Claudia Sheinbaum made it clear that American soldiers were not involved, only intelligence help was provided. El Mencho was on the most wanted lists of both the countries for a long time. America had offered a reward of 15 million dollars for his arrest. CJNG is considered to be Mexico’s most powerful and violent cartel, which plays a major role in the fentanyl supply chain.
Uproar in Mexico after El Mencho’s death
After El Mencho’s death, the CJNG tried to take revenge. Within hours, cartel goons set up road blocks, burned vehicles, attacked businesses and fired on security forces in Jalisco and other areas. At least 25 National Guard members were killed in Jalisco, while more than 30 suspected cartel members were also killed. Dozens of arrests were made in many states.
El Mencho’s alleged financial chief, El Tuli. Was killed in a separate clash. President Sheinbaum said, ‘The most important thing is to ensure peace and security for the people of Mexico. Today the situation is more calm.
This incident is considered a major turning point in Mexico’s drug war. Violence may increase due to the disintegration of CJNG or the emergence of a new leader, but the government claims that the security forces are keeping the situation under control. El Mencho’s death may also strengthen US-Mexico drug control cooperation.
