Mexican Military Kills 'El Mencho', Leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel

On February 22, 2026, Mexican special forces conducted a raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco, resulting in the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The operation, supported by U.S. intelligence, aimed to capture Oseguera, who was critically wounded during the confrontation and died en route to Mexico City.

The raid led to immediate and violent retaliation from CJNG members across multiple states, including Jalisco, Guanajuato, Nayarit, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas. Cartel operatives set vehicles ablaze, established roadblocks, and attacked government facilities. In Jalisco alone, 25 National Guard members were killed in six separate attacks.

The operation was initiated after Mexican military intelligence tracked a romantic partner of Oseguera to a secluded property in Tapalpa. U.S. intelligence provided critical support in confirming his location. During the pre-dawn raid, Oseguera attempted to flee but was found wounded in a wooded area and died during transport.

In the aftermath, Mexican authorities identified Hugo César Macías Ureña, alias "El Tuli," a senior CJNG figure, as the organizer of coordinated attacks in Jalisco. He reportedly offered bounties for the killing of military personnel. Security forces tracked him to El Grullo, Jalisco, where he was killed in a confrontation.

The U.S. government, which had placed a $15 million bounty on Oseguera, confirmed its intelligence support for the operation. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Oseguera was a "top trafficker of fentanyl into our homeland."

The death of Oseguera, considered one of Mexico's most powerful and dangerous drug lords, has left a significant power vacuum within the CJNG, raising concerns about potential internal conflicts and further violence.