Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo: The Woman Whose Visit Led to El Mencho's Death
Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo is the name that has emerged at the center of one of the most significant law enforcement operations in Mexican history. The low-profile romantic partner of CJNG cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — known as "El Mencho" — her visit to his remote forest hideout in Jalisco days before his death proved to be the intelligence breakthrough that sealed the cartel boss's fate.
Who Is Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo?
Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo was first publicly identified in October 2022, when leaked documents from Mexico's Defense Secretariat, exposed during the massive Guacamaya Leaks hack, named her as the presumed romantic partner of Oseguera Cervantes. The relationship reportedly began after the second arrest of his wife, Rosalinda González Valencia, in November 2021.
Very little is publicly known about Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo. She had been with El Mencho for approximately three years. She moved in the upper social circles of Guadalajara society but maintained a low profile, presenting herself as a businesswoman. No direct links to criminal activities have been confirmed.
Her Visit to Tapalpa Was the Turning Point
Mexico's Defense Secretariat confirmed it was able to locate the CJNG leader following a visit by his romantic partner. Moreno Carrillo traveled to see El Mencho on February 20 in Tapalpa, Jalisco, and left the location the following day — but the cartel boss remained behind.
On February 21, the woman and her driver were intercepted by military personnel to confirm that El Mencho was still in one of the cabins in the Tapalpa forest. An Army drone flew over the area, recorded the activity of the cartel leader's escorts, and confirmed exactly where he was sleeping.
The Military Operation: February 22, 2026
On the morning of February 22, 2026, the Army broke through the CJNG's security perimeter and surrounded El Mencho in the forested zone, triggering a firefight. The CJNG leader and two of his escorts were wounded. The escorts died during their helicopter transfer to a hospital.
Mexican military forces, supported by U.S. intelligence, killed CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes during the raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco, following a five-hour gunfight. The operation ended the run of one of the world's most wanted drug traffickers and sent shockwaves through Mexico's criminal underworld.
Was Her Role Deliberate or Accidental?
The Defense Secretary indicated that surveillance of one of El Mencho's partners made it possible to locate the area where he was hiding, but did not attribute direct responsibility to Moreno Carrillo. Official information indicates that she left the meeting point before the final military deployment.
Available documents only identify her as a romantic partner and as a figure in the cartel's organizational chart up to 2022, without establishing that she participated in his location deliberately. Whether she was an unwitting lead or something more remains an open and unresolved question.
Legal Status: Not Arrested, No Formal Charges
Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo is not detained and no arrest warrant has been issued against her. No formal public accusation detailing specific charges exists, but her mention in leaked internal documents and her presumed closeness to the slain leader place her under investigative scrutiny.
Her inclusion in internal Army reports revealed a level of proximity that went beyond the personal sphere, placing her within a section of the organizational chart labeled "Regional Coordinators and Plaza Chiefs." Her whereabouts and status in the days following El Mencho's death have not been publicly confirmed by Mexican authorities.
