Jalisco in Crisis: Mexican Army Kills CJNG Cartel Leader "El Mencho," Sparking Wave of Violence

Jalisco, Mexico erupted into chaos this week after the Mexican Army killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes — known as "El Mencho" — the feared leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), triggering one of the most violent cartel reprisal campaigns in recent Mexican history. The operation, carried out on Sunday, February 22, 2026, in the mountain town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, set off coordinated attacks, arson, road blockades, and mass flight cancellations across the region.

Jalisco Operation: How El Mencho Was Killed

The Mexican Army, supported by the National Guard, the Mexican Air Force, and intelligence personnel from the Attorney General's Office, conducted a targeted operation in Tapalpa — approximately two hours southwest of Guadalajara. El Mencho was wounded during the mission and died while being airlifted to Mexico City. Six other individuals were killed alongside him. Mexican authorities confirmed the operation was coordinated with U.S. agencies, which provided complementary intelligence in planning the mission. The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to El Mencho's capture or arrest.

Jalisco Violence: CJNG's Coordinated Retaliation

Within hours of El Mencho's death, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel launched coordinated retaliatory attacks across multiple Mexican states. The reprisals were swift and widespread:

Guadalajara, Jalisco's capital, turned into a ghost town Sunday night. Social media showed a Costco building and a gas station on fire. By Sunday night, Mexican security officials reported 252 blockades nationwide, with 23 still uncleared by 8 p.m. ET. One National Guard member was killed during the Tapalpa operation, six others died in Zapopan, a jail guard was killed in Puerto Vallarta during a prison riot, and a Jalisco state prosecutor's agent was killed in Guadalajara. A total of 25 National Guard troops were killed across six separate cartel attacks in the aftermath.

Jalisco Code Red: Governor's Emergency Response

Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro declared a "Code Red" — the state's highest-level security emergency — suspending public transportation and urging all residents to shelter in place. Schools in Jalisco were canceled for Monday, February 23. By Monday morning, the Guadalajara metro system had largely reopened and public transport service resumed, though widespread gas station closures and security patrols remained in place.

Flights Canceled to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara

The violence paralyzed air travel in and out of Jalisco. Airlines that suspended or canceled flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara included Southwest, Alaska, United, Delta, Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines. Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico confirmed all international operations and most domestic flights were halted at Puerto Vallarta International Airport. Airport facilities remained under federal security protection and no violent incidents occurred inside the terminals.

What Comes Next for Jalisco and the CJNG

El Mencho's death dealt the single biggest blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel since its founding around 2009. The CJNG had grown into what the DEA considered as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, with a presence in all 50 U.S. states and major roles in cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl trafficking. Analysts warn that the cartel's leadership vacuum is unlikely to end drug flows — with experts noting that plenty of contenders will emerge to challenge for control. The Trump administration had designated CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum applauded security forces but called for calm, wary of the fragmentation and escalating violence that historically follows the removal of a top cartel leader.