US-Backed Operation Ends Reign of Cartel Boss ‘El Mencho’

 

A forensic ambulance believed to be transporting the body of Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho,"leaves the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Organised Crime (FEMDO), following a military operation in which a government source said he was killed, in Mexico City, Mexico, February 22, 2026. 

Mexico has entered a turbulent new chapter after the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as El Mencho, one of the country’s most feared cartel leaders. The Mexican military, supported by U.S. intelligence, carried out a high‑stakes raid in the western state of Jalisco that resulted in the fatal wounding of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) boss. He later died while being transported to Mexico City for treatment. 

Authorities confirmed that the operation, conducted in Tapalpa, was part of an intensified bilateral effort to curb the production and trafficking of fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States. A specialized U.S.-led intelligence task force played a key role in tracking the elusive cartel leader.

El Mencho’s death has triggered immediate and widespread retaliation across Jalisco, including arson attacks, roadblocks, and disruptions at major transportation hubs. The CJNG, long considered one of Mexico’s most violent and expansionist criminal organizations, is expected to undergo internal turmoil as authorities brace for further unrest. 

The killing marks a significant milestone in Mexico’s ongoing struggle against powerful drug cartels, though officials warn that the fallout may intensify before stability returns.