Mexico Cartel News: El Mencho Killed, CJNG Unleashes Nationwide Violence
The most significant cartel development in decades has rocked Mexico and sent shockwaves across the Americas. The killing of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes — head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel — by Mexican military forces on Sunday, February 22, 2026, triggered an immediate and widespread wave of retaliatory cartel violence that is still being contained as of Tuesday, February 24, 2026 ET.
Who Was "El Mencho" and How Was He Killed
Oseguera, 59, led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels, though he was a shadowy figure who avoided public attention. Hailing from the state of Michoacán, he grew up in poverty and immigrated illegally to California in the 1980s before being deported in the early 1990s.
After years of pursuit, Mexican forces on February 20 received a concrete tip about El Mencho's whereabouts through a trusted associate of one of his lovers. The following day, the lover left Oseguera's cabin complex on the outskirts of Tapalpa, but El Mencho remained at the hideout with his security detail. Mexico's Air Force and the National Guard's Special Immediate Reaction Force then launched a raid within 24 hours.
During the operation, Mexican military personnel were attacked. In defending themselves, they killed four members of CJNG and seriously injured three others, including Oseguera, who later died. Two other CJNG members were detained, and armored vehicles and weaponry — including rocket launchers capable of shooting down aircraft — were seized.
The White House confirmed the U.S. provided intelligence support to the operation, calling El Mencho "the Mexican government's biggest prize yet" in demonstrating results to the Trump administration.
The Cartel's Violent Response
Within hours of the operation, CJNG members erected between 80 and 250 narco-blockades and set vehicles, buses, and businesses ablaze across 20 of Mexico's 32 states. In Puerto Vallarta, residents reported the city under siege — gunshots rang out and thick columns of black smoke rose over the city as more than 10 vehicles and several businesses were set on fire. Prison breaks were also reported.
Mexican security officials confirmed that 25 members of the National Guard were killed in six separate incidents in Jalisco alone. Thirty criminal suspects were also killed in Jalisco, and four others in Michoacán.
Death Toll and Current Status
| Category | Figures |
|---|---|
| Total deaths reported | 70+ |
| National Guard killed | 25 |
| Criminal suspects killed | 34+ |
| States affected by narco-blockades | 20 of 32 |
| U.S. bounty on El Mencho | $15 million USD |
| CJNG estimated net worth | $10+ billion USD |
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said calm is being restored and improvised cartel roadblocks are being removed, stating that "peace, security and normalcy are being maintained" across Mexico.
Impact on American Tourists and Travelers
Several airlines — including Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Air Canada — canceled flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara as violence erupted. The U.S. State Department set up a 24/7 crisis hotline (+1-888-407-4747 from the U.S.) that fielded hundreds of calls from Americans stranded in Mexico, most related to flight cancellations.
The Succession Crisis: What Comes Next
There is no obvious successor to Oseguera. His brother is in a U.S. prison, and his son — known as El Menchito — is also imprisoned, as is his daughter. Analysts warn that different regional CJNG bosses could now dispute for power, mirroring what happened when El Chapo was arrested, which eventually sparked a civil war between Sinaloa factions.
Security analysts describe El Mencho's killing as the most significant elimination of a cartel leader since Pablo Escobar. However, they warn that rival cartels will likely take advantage of the uncertainty and chaos within the CJNG to seize territory, potentially initiating a secondary wave of violence.
2026 FIFA World Cup Threat
Guadalajara — the epicenter of the violence — is scheduled to host four World Cup group stage matches in June, including Mexico vs. South Korea on June 18 and Uruguay vs. Spain on June 26. Authorities expect around 3 million visitors. A World Cup playoff tournament is also set for the Estadio Akron on March 26–28 — just over a month away.
Despite the bloodshed, President Sheinbaum guarantees "no risk" for fans attending 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Guadalajara this June. Security analysts note that cartels have an economic interest in keeping the World Cup peaceful because they profit when foreign visitors spend money.
