Mexican authorities have killed El Mencho, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and one of the world's most wanted drug traffickers. The military operation that resulted in his death represents the biggest blow to Mexico's drug trade in years, comparable only to the capture of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán.
Key Takeaways
- Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, was killed in a military operation in western Mexico on February 22, 2026
- He founded and led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which controls drug trafficking, extortion, and fuel theft across Mexico
- His death is the most significant takedown of a Mexican drug lord since El Chapo's capture
- The cartel he built became known for using military-style tactics, including armored vehicles, drones, and rocket launchers
Background
El Mencho wasn't always a cartel boss. He started as a small-time drug dealer in California in the late 1980s. A 1992 arrest for selling heroin to an undercover officer in San Francisco landed him in a U.S. prison. After serving three years, he was deported to Mexico at age 30.
Back in Mexico, he joined the local police forces in Jalisco. But police work didn't hold his attention. He left to join the Milenio Cartel, a criminal organization that would shape his future. To strengthen his ties, he married Rosalinda González Valencia, the sister of a Milenio clan leader. This connection gave him access to the inner circles of organized crime.
El Mencho's rise accelerated after his boss, Armando Valencia Cornelio, was arrested in 2003. When a rival gang called Los Zetas attacked the Milenio Cartel, El Mencho and his associates relocated to Jalisco. There, they formed an alliance with a Sinaloa Cartel subgroup headed by Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel, who worked under Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. Under this arrangement, El Mencho managed drug operations and finances in Colima and Jalisco.
Key Details
The Formation of CJNG
El Mencho's group eventually broke away and formed Los Mata Zetas, a gang created to fight against the Los Zetas organization. They won that war and consolidated control over western Mexico. Around 2011, the group rebranded itself as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG.
What started as a small offshoot became one of Mexico's most powerful criminal organizations. El Mencho built it through territorial expansion, corruption of government officials, and ruthless violence. The cartel grew to control drug trafficking, extortion, fuel theft, and other criminal enterprises across the country.
"CJNG is heavily involved in the manufacturing, trafficking, and distribution of illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, as well as maintaining a vast money laundering operation," according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Military-Style Operations
Under El Mencho's leadership, the cartel pioneered the use of military hardware in drug trafficking. They operated armored vehicles, land mines, drones, and other weapons typically seen in warfare. In 2015, the cartel made international headlines by shooting down a Mexican military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, killing nine soldiers.
That same year, cartel members attempted to assassinate Mexico City Police Chief Omar García Harfuch. The attack happened while García was traveling in an armored SUV. Cartel operatives armed with high-powered rifles, grenades, and body armor opened fire. García survived, but two of his bodyguards and an uninvolved woman were killed.
In another display of power, cartel members blockaded roads across the Guadalajara area, set 39 buses on fire, burned 11 banks, and destroyed 16 gas stations. The violence spread across 20 different towns and three neighboring states.
The Military Operation
The operation that killed El Mencho occurred on February 22, 2026, in western Mexico. Violent clashes broke out during and after the military moved against him. Six other people were killed in the fighting. Two were arrested. Mexican authorities seized armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and other weapons. Three members of Mexico's military were wounded.
Rumors about El Mencho's death have circulated before and turned out to be false. But authorities had been closing in on him for years. They captured several of his high-ranking associates and family members, tightening the noose around the cartel leader.
Family Connections
El Mencho's son, Rubén Oseguera González, known as "El Menchito," was captured and extradited to the United States in February 2020. He was convicted in 2024 on drug and weapons charges and is now serving a life sentence in a maximum-security federal prison in Florence, Colorado, the same facility that houses El Chapo.
His daughter, Jessica Johanna Oseguera González, was arrested while attending one of her brother's court proceedings. She pleaded guilty to money laundering violations and spent just over two years in prison before her release in 2022.
What This Means
El Mencho's death removes one of the world's most dangerous criminals from power. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel will likely face internal struggles as different factions compete to replace him. Mexico's government has been under pressure from the Trump administration to crack down on drug trafficking, and this operation shows a significant result from those efforts.
However, the cartel itself won't disappear. CJNG has grown into a vast organization with operations throughout Mexico and connections to drug markets worldwide. The leadership vacuum created by El Mencho's death could lead to increased violence as different cartel members fight for control.
The operation also highlights how Mexican authorities, with assistance from U.S. intelligence, continue to target major drug traffickers. But the broader war on drugs in Mexico remains far from over. The cartel scene is complex, with multiple organizations competing for territory and profit. El Mencho's death is a major victory, but it won't solve Mexico's drug trafficking problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was El Mencho?
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, was a Mexican drug lord who founded and led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. He started as a small-time drug dealer in California before building one of Mexico's most powerful criminal organizations. He was killed in a military operation on February 22, 2026.
What is the Jalisco New Generation Cartel?
The CJNG is one of Mexico's most violent drug cartels. It controls drug trafficking, extortion, fuel theft, and other criminal operations across much of Mexico. Under El Mencho's leadership, it became known for using military-style tactics and weapons. The cartel manufactures and distributes fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
Why is El Mencho's death significant?
El Mencho's death is the most significant takedown of a Mexican drug lord since the capture of El Chapo. It represents a major victory in Mexico's fight against drug trafficking and comes as the Mexican government faces pressure from the Trump administration to crack down on cartels. However, the CJNG will likely continue operating under new leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was El Mencho?
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, was a Mexican drug lord who founded and led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. He started as a small-time drug dealer in California before building one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations. He was killed in a military operation on February 22, 2026.
What is the Jalisco New Generation Cartel?
The CJNG is one of Mexico’s most violent drug cartels. It controls drug trafficking, extortion, fuel theft, and other criminal operations across much of Mexico. Under El Mencho’s leadership, it became known for using military-style tactics and weapons. The cartel manufactures and distributes fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
Why is El Mencho’s death significant?
El Mencho’s death is the most significant takedown of a Mexican drug lord since the capture of El Chapo. It represents a major victory in Mexico’s fight against drug trafficking and comes as the Mexican government faces pressure from the Trump administration to crack down on cartels. However, the CJNG will likely continue operating under new leadership.
