Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo: The Woman Whose Visit Led Authorities to El Mencho
Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo is the name now at the center of one of the most significant law enforcement operations in Mexico's recent history. Her visit to CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — known as "El Mencho" — just days before his death on February 22, 2026, proved to be the critical lead that allowed Mexican and U.S. intelligence forces to locate and close in on the cartel kingpin.
Who Is Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo
Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo first appeared in official documents in October 2022, when the massive federal government hack known as Guacamaya Leaks exposed internal files from Mexico's Secretariat of National Defense, known as Sedena. Those leaked documents identified Moreno Carrillo as the romantic partner of El Mencho following the second arrest of his wife, Rosalinda González Valencia, in November 2021.
According to Guardia Nacional reports reviewed by Mexican media, Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo is estimated to be approximately 50 to 55 years old, with light skin and dark hair. No official information has confirmed her exact birthdate, hometown, or personal background prior to her relationship with El Mencho.
Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo's Visit Triggered the Operation Against El Mencho
Mexican Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo confirmed publicly that intelligence forces tracked a person close to one of El Mencho's romantic partners in the days leading up to the operation. That trail led directly to a mountainous area in the municipality of Tapalpa, Jalisco. Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo visited El Mencho there on February 20, 2026, and departed the following day, but the cartel boss remained at the location.
With Moreno Carrillo's movements confirming El Mencho's exact position, Mexican Army forces activated a tactical ground and air perimeter around the area on the morning of February 22, 2026. A shootout broke out, during which El Mencho and two of his bodyguards were wounded. All three died while being airlifted by helicopter toward Mexico City.
Her Alleged Role Inside the CJNG Structure
Beyond her personal relationship with El Mencho, Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo is listed in Sedena documents within a section describing regional coordinators and plaza bosses of the CJNG in Jalisco. The documents did not specify her precise duties or rank, but her inclusion in that section raised questions about how active a role she may have played inside the cartel's operational structure.
Authorities believe Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo accompanied El Mencho during his years living clandestinely across mountainous regions of Jalisco, Michoacán, and Colima. El Mencho was known to avoid all electronic devices, communicating only through handwritten letters and personal messengers, an environment that would have required those closest to him to operate in complete secrecy.
Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo Considered a Fugitive
Mexico's Attorney General's Office currently considers Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo a fugitive, based on the likelihood that she lived alongside El Mencho during his years in hiding. No formal charges have been made public against her as of this writing, though investigators have opened lines of inquiry into her possible participation in CJNG activities alongside Oseguera Cervantes.
Her profile represents a pattern seen before in the CJNG's inner circle, where women closest to its leadership have been identified as playing significant organizational roles. Her predecessor, Rosalinda González Valencia — known as "La Jefa" — was convicted in Mexico for money laundering operations tied to the cartel and was released early in early 2025 after serving more than half of her sentence.
Death of El Mencho Triggered Nationwide Violence
The killing of El Mencho immediately set off a wave of violence across Mexico. At least five states reported roadblocks, burning vehicles, and armed confrontations on the morning of February 22, 2026, as CJNG operatives responded to news of their leader's death. Clashes were concentrated in Jalisco, Colima, Guanajuato, and Michoacán, the CJNG's traditional strongholds.
El Mencho, who was 56 years old at the time of his death, had led the CJNG since 2011 and had evaded both Mexican and U.S. authorities for over a decade. The operation in Tapalpa, backed by joint U.S.-Mexico intelligence cooperation, finally ended his run. The trail began, investigators say, with Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo.
