El Mencho Killed: Mexican Military Takes Down CJNG Cartel Leader, Sparking Fires, Airport Chaos, and U.S. Shelter-in-Place Orders Across Jalisco
In a seismic development for Mexico and the United States, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes — the feared drug lord known as El Mencho and one of the world's most wanted criminals — has been killed following a Mexican military operation on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The death of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel's supreme leader immediately triggered waves of retaliatory violence across multiple Mexican states, with fires burning in Puerto Vallarta, chaos erupting at Guadalajara's international airport, and the U.S. State Department issuing an urgent shelter-in-place order for American citizens across five Mexican states.
Who Is El Mencho? The Cartel Leader Mexico Finally Caught
El Mencho led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, which is one of the most powerful and fastest-growing criminal organizations in Mexico, born in 2009. The DEA considered this cartel to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, with a presence in all 50 U.S. states where it distributed tons of drugs. The CJNG was known for its paramilitary tactics including attacks on military helicopters and pioneering the use of drone-launched explosives and land mines.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed the cartel leader's death, describing El Mencho as "one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins," and said: "This is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world. The good guys are stronger than the bad guys."
How Did El Mencho Die? The Military Operation in Tapalpa
Oseguera Cervantes, 59, was wounded during an operation to capture him in Tapalpa, Jalisco — about two hours southwest of Guadalajara — and died while being flown by aircraft to Mexico City. During the operation, troops came under fire and killed four people at the location. Three more people, including Oseguera Cervantes, were wounded and later died. Two others were arrested and armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and other arms were seized. Three members of the armed forces were wounded and are receiving medical treatment.
The Mexican Army team that killed El Mencho had received specialized training from U.S. Navy SEALs shortly before the operation. A U.S. defense official confirmed that the U.S. military played a role in the operation via the Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel, which regularly works with the Mexican military through U.S. Northern Command — though the official emphasized: "This was a Mexican military operation, so the success is theirs."
What Is Happening in Puerto Vallarta and Jalisco Right Now
The military operation triggered a series of violent events across the state of Jalisco. Suspected members of organized crime groups set buses on fire, blocked roads, and clashed with authorities. Video obtained by CNN showed multiple fires burning and plumes of smoke rising across Puerto Vallarta, the resort town popular with U.S. tourists on Mexico's west coast.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro activated a "Code Red" — the highest level of security alert — and suspended all public transportation across Jalisco, urging people to remain in their homes. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged the roadblocks but stressed that "in the vast majority of the national territory, activities are proceeding with complete normality."
Violence was not limited to Jalisco. The Guanajuato Security and Peace Secretariat reported fires at pharmacies and convenience stores in different parts of that state. Similar incidents were reported in Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León.
Guadalajara Airport and Puerto Vallarta Airport: What Travelers Need to Know
Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) officially suspended all operations. Burning vehicles and blockades made access roads impassable. Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) reached a critical security point, with people filmed sprinting across the tarmac and seeking shelter — footage that flooded social media within hours of the operation.
United, Southwest, Delta, Alaska, and Air Canada all canceled flights to Puerto Vallarta. At least one American Airlines flight turned around as conditions escalated on the ground. Grupo Aeropuerto del Pacífico (GAP) stated that Guadalajara International Airport was operating normally with no flight cancellations, and that the terminal was under protection of the National Guard and the Secretariat of National Defense.
U.S. Mexico Travel Advisory: Shelter-in-Place Order Issued
The U.S. State Department's Consular Affairs issued an urgent security alert stating: "Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the following locations should shelter in place until further notice: Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (including Reynosa and other municipalities), areas of Michoacán State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo León State."
The Embassy advises Americans in affected areas to:
- Avoid areas with law enforcement activity
- Be aware of surroundings and seek shelter
- Minimize all unnecessary movement
- Monitor local media for updates
- Follow directions of local authorities
- Avoid crowds and keep family informed of your location
What Comes Next: A Power Vacuum and More Violence Expected
Experts warn a tremendous wave of violence is likely to follow El Mencho's death. Vanda Felbab-Brown, an expert on international organized crime, compared Oseguera to other key drug figures taken down in recent years — Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, both of the rival Sinaloa cartel. "Apart from the heads of the Sinaloa cartel, El Mencho has been the biggest prize for many, many years," she said. Jalisco is also scheduled to host four matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June, raising urgent questions about security in the region ahead of the global tournament.
