GUADALAJARA, Mexico — In a seismic shift for the global drug trade, Mexican security forces have killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the feared founder and supreme commander of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Known as “El Mencho,” the 59-year-old was brought down Sunday, February 22, 2026, during a high-stakes military raid in the rugged town of Tapalpa, Jalisco. The Ministry of National Defense confirmed that Oseguera Cervantes was wounded during a fierce exchange of gunfire and died while being airlifted to Mexico City. The operation, which involved elite Mexican Special Forces and intelligence support from the United States, represents the most significant blow to organized crime since the capture of “El Chapo” Guzmán.
The Siege of Tapalpa
The capture attempt began in the early morning hours in the mountains of Jalisco, El Mencho’s longtime stronghold.
- The Firefight: Cartel gunmen launched a desperate defense of their leader, utilizing armored vehicles and rocket launchers. Four CJNG operatives were killed at the scene.
- The Toll: El Mencho and two other high-ranking associates were gravely wounded. Three members of the Mexican armed forces also sustained injuries but are reported to be in stable condition.
- The Trophies: Along with the cartel leader, military forces seized a massive cache of weapons, including “military-grade” ordnance and tactical gear.
The ‘Code Red’ Chaos
The death of Mexico’s most-wanted man triggered an immediate, violent “narco-blockade” response across western Mexico. Governor Pablo Lemus of Jalisco activated a state-wide “Code Red” as the CJNG’s paramilitary wings sought to paralyze the region.
- Guadalajara: Panic swept the international airport following reports of an active shooter. Videos on social media showed travelers diving for cover as federal forces clashed with cartel members on the airport perimeter.
- Puerto Vallarta: The “jewel of the Pacific” saw plumes of black smoke rise over the city as dozens of buses and trucks were hijacked and set ablaze to block key arteries. Air Canada and American Airlines suspended all flights to the region on Sunday evening.
- The Border Pulse: Chaos was not limited to Jalisco; reports of roadblocks and burning vehicles surfaced as far away as Reynosa, Tamaulipas, and parts of Michoacán.
A ‘Great Development’ for Washington
The $15 million bounty on El Mencho’s head was a testament to his status as the primary architect of the fentanyl crisis. Under his command, the CJNG transformed from a local gang into a global empire with tentacles on every continent except Antarctica.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau hailed the operation as a “great development for Mexico, the U.S., Latin America, and the world,” stating that the “good guys are stronger than the bad guys.” For the Trump administration, which designated the CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this month, the killing provides a powerful victory in its high-pressure campaign against the Mexican cartels.
The Power Vacuum
With El Mencho gone, Mexico enters a volatile new era of “uncharted territory.” Unlike the splintering of the Sinaloa Cartel, the CJNG has functioned as a rigid, top-down hierarchy. Analysts warn that the race to fill the vacuum could lead to internal fratricide or a renewed offensive by the remnants of the Sinaloa Cartel.
As President Claudia Sheinbaum calls for calm, the country remains on high alert. The “Year of the Fire Horse” has delivered its most violent Sunday yet, proving that while the “Lord of the Roosters” may be dead, the war he built is far from over.