CJNG Cartel Leader Killed: El Mencho Dead, Mexico in Chaos — What Is Happening in Mexico Right Now
Mexico was thrust into a national security crisis on Sunday, February 22, 2026, after the Mexican military killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes — the infamous cartel leader known as El Mencho — during a federal raid in Jalisco. The death of the CJNG boss triggered an immediate wave of violence that spread across more than a dozen Mexican states, sending shockwaves from Puerto Vallarta to the U.S. border and prompting an emergency Mexico travel advisory from the U.S. State Department.
Who Is El Mencho? The Meaning Behind the Name
El Mencho is the nickname of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, 59, a former police officer who co-founded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) around 2007. The "Mencho" name became synonymous with extreme cartel violence in Mexico — the CJNG grew under his leadership into arguably the most powerful and fastest-growing criminal organization in the country, rivaling the Sinaloa Cartel in reach and firepower.
The DEA assessed his organization as having the highest cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine trafficking capacity in Mexico, and in recent years the cartel expanded aggressively into fentanyl production. The U.S. government classified CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025 and placed a $15 million bounty on El Mencho — one of the largest rewards ever offered for a Mexican cartel figure.
How Did El Mencho Die? The Mexico Military Operation
Oseguera Cervantes was wounded during a military operation Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco — a town roughly two hours southwest of Guadalajara — and died while being flown to Mexico City. During the operation, troops came under fire and killed four people at the location. Two others were arrested, and armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and other arms were seized. Three members of the armed forces were wounded. Mexico's Defense Ministry confirmed the raid was carried out with complementary intelligence from U.S. authorities.
What Is Happening in Mexico Right Now: Cartel Retaliation and Chaos
The Mexican cartel news today is dominated by the retaliatory violence that erupted within hours of El Mencho's death. Here is a snapshot of what is going on in Mexico right now:
| Location | Incident |
|---|---|
| Jalisco / Guadalajara | Roads blocked, vehicles torched; "Code Red" declared |
| Puerto Vallarta | Smoke visible over city; taxi and rideshare suspended |
| Guadalajara Airport | Panic reported; passengers filmed sprinting through terminal |
| Tamaulipas (Reynosa) | Roads to airport blocked by cartel members |
| Michoacán, Guanajuato | Highway blockades; pharmacies and stores set on fire |
Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus Navarro activated a "code red" state-of-emergency protocol and suspended public transportation across the state, urging residents to remain indoors. School was canceled Monday in several states.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Airport Situation and Travel Disruptions
What is happening in Puerto Vallarta has alarmed tourists and travelers worldwide. Air Canada suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta citing an "ongoing security situation," and American Airlines waived change fees for travelers going to, through, or from Guadalajara or Puerto Vallarta. The Mexico airport situation in Guadalajara and Reynosa also saw disruptions, with road access cut off by burning vehicles and armed blockades, though no airports were formally closed.
US Embassy Mexico Shelter-in-Place Advisory
The US Embassy Mexico issued an urgent security alert that became a top search in real time. The U.S. State Department advised American citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León to shelter in place until further notice. The Mexico shelter in place order is rare in scope and reflects the severity of cartel retaliation playing out across the country.
What This Means for Mexico Cartel Power and What Comes Next
The killing of the Mexican cartel leader El Mencho marks the most significant blow to organized crime in Mexico since the captures of Sinaloa bosses Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau called Oseguera "one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins" and praised the operation as a major win for both nations. However, experts warn that the cartels in Mexico — and CJNG specifically — do not dissolve when a leader falls. Historically, power vacuums trigger prolonged internal warfare and civilian bloodshed, a cycle Mexico experienced after the removal of El Chapo. Authorities across both nations are bracing for what comes next as the Mexico cartel leadership question remains unresolved.
