El Mencho Dead: Mexican Army Kills CJNG Cartel Leader in Jalisco Raid, Chaos Erupts at Puerto Vallarta Airport and Guadalajara
Mexico cartel news today is dominated by one of the most consequential law enforcement events in the country's modern history. Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes — the feared Mexican cartel leader known as El Mencho — was killed Sunday, February 22, 2026, during a Mexican Army operation in the town of Tapalpa in the western state of Jalisco. His death sent shockwaves across Mexico and triggered widespread cartel violence from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta.
Who Is El Mencho? The CJNG Cartel Leader Behind the Name
El Mencho — whose name translates loosely from Mexican slang as a nickname derived from "Nemesio" — was the founder and supreme commander of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), widely regarded as Mexico's most powerful and violent cartel. Born in Michoacán, Oseguera Cervantes rose from avocado picker to one of the world's most wanted traffickers. A former police officer, he built CJNG into a transnational criminal empire beginning in 2009. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration ranked CJNG on par with the Sinaloa Cartel, with distribution networks across all 50 U.S. states trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. The U.S. State Department had offered up to $15 million USD for information leading to his arrest.
How Did El Mencho Die? The Jalisco Military Operation Explained
Mexican Army and federal security forces launched a targeted capture operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, Sunday morning ET. During the raid, CJNG members opened fire on troops. Four cartel operatives were killed at the scene. El Mencho and two others were gravely wounded in the firefight and later died. Two additional suspects were arrested. Soldiers seized armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and military-grade weapons at the location. Three members of Mexico's armed forces were wounded and received immediate medical treatment.
What Is Happening in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara Right Now
The cartel's violent response to El Mencho's death was swift and broad:
| Location | Incident |
|---|---|
| Puerto Vallarta | Fires burning across the city; smoke visible from PVR airport |
| Guadalajara Airport (GDL) | Panic and hysteria among passengers; no confirmed security breach |
| Jalisco highways | Buses and vehicles set ablaze, roads blocked |
| Michoacán & Guanajuato | Cartel roadblocks and burning vehicles reported |
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro urged residents to shelter in place and suspended public transportation statewide. Air Canada suspended all flights to Puerto Vallarta.
Mexico Travel Advisory: U.S. Embassy Issues Emergency Warning
The U.S. Embassy issued an urgent Mexico travel advisory directing American citizens in affected areas to shelter in place. Key guidance includes:
- Avoid areas with active law enforcement or military activity
- Minimize all unnecessary movement
- Monitor local media and follow local authority directions
- Keep family and friends updated on your location
- Call 911 in any emergency
Guadalajara Airport News: Panic But No Confirmed Attack
Videos circulating on social media showed people sprinting through the Guadalajara International Airport (GDL/PVR airport region) in apparent panic. The airport operator confirmed there was "hysteria among passengers" but stated no security incidents occurred inside the facility. Flights experienced significant disruption amid the broader Jalisco news today.
What El Mencho's Death Means for Mexico Cartel News Going Forward
The killing of the CJNG cartel leader is the single largest blow to organized crime in Mexico in years. Security analysts warn that cartel leadership vacuums historically trigger internal succession battles, territorial fragmentation, and surges in localized violence as rival factions compete for control. CJNG had been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the Trump administration in early 2026. U.S. State Department Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau called El Mencho's death a "great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world." Mexico's government framed the operation as a direct demonstration of results to Washington amid pressure over cartel mexico activity and fentanyl trafficking.
