Mexico is gripped by fear after the military's killing of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, set off a chain reaction of Mexico cartel violence that has left more than 70 people dead and forced entire cities into lockdown. The operation on February 22 in the mountain town of Tapalpa was meant to be a victory against one of the world's largest fentanyl traffickers. Instead, it unleashed something far more chaotic and unpredictable.
Key Takeaways
- El Mencho was killed in a military raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco, after security forces tracked one of his romantic partners to his hideout
- The cartel's response was swift and brutal: more than 250 roadblocks set up across 20 states, vehicles burned, and coordinated attacks on security forces
- At least 25 National Guard members were killed in six separate attacks, with roughly 30 cartel members also dead in Jalisco
- Major cities including Guadalajara suspended public transportation and schools, with residents told to stay indoors for safety
Background
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel didn't emerge as Mexico's dominant criminal force overnight. The organization started operating around 2009 and grew rapidly by specializing in fentanyl trafficking alongside methamphetamine and cocaine shipments to the United States. El Mencho built a reputation for brazen attacks on government officials and military targets. In February 2025, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization, a move that reflected its growing power and reach.
What made the cartel particularly dangerous wasn't just its size or drug operations. The organization pioneered new tactics in Mexico's drug wars. It launched explosives from drones and installed mines to target military personnel. The cartel's willingness to directly confront the Mexican military set it apart from other criminal groups, which typically avoided such direct confrontation.
By the time security forces moved on El Mencho's compound in Tapalpa, he'd become the world's biggest fentanyl trafficker and arguably Mexico's most wanted criminal. Mexican Defense Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla said authorities had tracked one of his romantic partners to his hideout, giving them the opening they needed.
Key Details
The Raid and El Mencho's Death
On the morning of February 22, federal troops surrounded the rural compound in Tapalpa's mountainous terrain. When they advanced toward the property, CJNG gunmen opened fire immediately. The firefight was intense. Cartel members used heavy weaponry and high-caliber firearms to push back the assault. Several cartel members fell in the initial exchange, but the fight was far from over.
El Mencho didn't stay to defend the compound. He attempted to escape into the surrounding wooded area with members of his security detail. Special Forces personnel split off to pursue him, triggering a second armed confrontation in the nearby forest. A military helicopter providing aerial support was struck by gunfire during the chase, forcing it to make an emergency landing in nearby Sayula.
Both El Mencho and his two bodyguards were gravely wounded in this second firefight. Security forces called for a helicopter to transport them to Guadalajara for emergency medical treatment. But they didn't make it. All three died during the flight. Due to security concerns about further CJNG retaliation in Jalisco's capital, officials diverted the aircraft to Morelia International Airport instead.
The Cartel's Response
What happened next was a coordinated show of force across Mexico. Within hours of El Mencho's death, CJNG members set up roadblocks nationwide. Security forces identified approximately 250 of them. Cartel members hijacked cargo trucks, buses, and private vehicles, then set them on fire to obstruct traffic. The blockades appeared in Jalisco and 19 other states, including Michoacán, Guanajuato, Colima, Tamaulipas, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, and Sinaloa.
In Guadalajara alone, security forces confirmed at least 20 active blockade points on February 22. Hugo César Macías Ureña, known as "El Tuli" and identified as El Mencho's right-hand man in Jalisco, coordinated much of the retaliation. He reportedly offered up to 20,000 Mexican pesos—more than $1,000—for each soldier killed. Security forces attempted to apprehend him at El Grullo, Jalisco, but the operation was ongoing.
The violence came in waves. Twenty-five National Guard members were killed in six separate attacks in Jalisco following the operation. Around 30 cartel members died in Jalisco, with four more killed in neighboring Michoacán. But the cartel's rampage didn't spare civilians. At least three other people were killed in the clashes, including an agent from the Jalisco state prosecutor's office, a jail guard, and a civilian woman whose identity hasn't been made public.
Life Under Lockdown
Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city, transformed overnight. On Sunday, February 22, the streets were nearly empty. Fearful residents stayed home. Bus and urban rail services were suspended. The city's Mi Macro Periférico and Sistema de Tren Eléctrico Urbano lines shut down. Long-distance bus services from Mexico City to western states were cancelled due to highway closures.
More than 1,000 people got stuck overnight at Guadalajara's zoo after arriving there before the violence erupted. They slept in buses, unable to return home to nearby states like Zacatecas and Michoacán. Luis Soto Rendón, the zoo's director, made the decision to let them stay for safety.
"We decided to let people stay inside the zoo for their safety. We have everyone from small children to senior citizens." – Luis Soto Rendón, zoo director
By Monday, February 23, some normalcy crept back. Children played in Tapalpa's cobblestone streets. Tourist shops opened on the main plaza. But gunshots still rang out. Just outside town, a dead man lay on the road next to a bullet-riddled Jeep. Security forces continued their battle with cartel gunmen as smoke rose on the outskirts.
In Guadalajara, people began venturing out to work and buy supplies. José Luis Ramírez, a 54-year-old therapist, waited in a long line outside a pharmacy, one of the few open businesses. Families were buying food, medicine, water, diapers, and baby formula from pharmacists through chained doors. For Ramírez, it was his first time leaving the house since the violence erupted.
"We have to not think scared, but be cool-headed, like they say, and take things as they come." – José Luis Ramírez, resident
Irma Hernández, a 43-year-old hotel security guard, normally took public transportation to work. With buses shut down, her bosses organized a private car to pick her up. Her family stayed home, too scared to leave.
Several Mexican states cancelled school on Monday. Local and foreign governments warned their citizens to stay inside. The U.K. Foreign Office issued a travel warning for Mexico after the drug cartel violence erupted.
What This Means
El Mencho's death was supposed to be a major blow to Mexico's drug trade. Instead, it's revealed how fragile security remains in parts of the country. The cartel's ability to coordinate 250 roadblocks across 20 states in a matter of hours shows the reach and organization of the CJNG. It also shows the limits of military operations against entrenched criminal networks.
The question now isn't whether the cartel will recover from losing its leader. The question is what happens next. Will a successor emerge quickly and consolidate power? Will rival factions splinter off and fight for control? Will the violence continue at this level, or will it eventually calm down?
Mexico's government had hoped El Mencho's death would ease pressure from the Trump administration to do more against the cartels. Instead, the immediate aftermath has raised new questions about Mexico's ability to maintain order and protect its citizens. The images of empty streets, burned vehicles, and families sheltering in a zoo tell a story that goes beyond one cartel leader's death. They show a country struggling to contain forces that have grown beyond easy control.
For residents of Guadalajara and other affected cities, the immediate concern is simpler: when will life return to normal? When will buses run again? When will it be safe to leave home without fear? Those answers remain unclear as Mexico watches and waits to see whether the worst of the cartel's retaliation has passed or if more violence is still to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who was El Mencho and why was he important?
A: Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the world's biggest fentanyl trafficker. He built the CJNG into one of Mexico's most powerful criminal organizations by trafficking drugs to the United States and launching brazen attacks on government officials and military targets. The Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025.
Q: How did El Mencho die?
A: Mexican military forces raided his compound in Tapalpa, Jalisco on February 22. When he tried to escape into the woods with bodyguards, he was wounded in a firefight with Special Forces personnel. He and two bodyguards were airlifted for emergency medical treatment but all three died during the flight to Mexico City.
Q: What has the cartel done in response to El Mencho's death?
A: The CJNG set up more than 250 roadblocks across 20 states, burned vehicles, and launched coordinated attacks on security forces. At least 25 National Guard members were killed in six separate attacks. The cartel's second-in-command offered more than $1,000 for each soldier killed. Major cities suspended public transportation and schools, and residents were told to stay indoors for safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was El Mencho and why was he important?
Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the world’s biggest fentanyl trafficker. He built the CJNG into one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations by trafficking drugs to the United States and launching brazen attacks on government officials and military targets. The Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025.
How did El Mencho die?
Mexican military forces raided his compound in Tapalpa, Jalisco on February 22. When he tried to escape into the woods with bodyguards, he was wounded in a firefight with Special Forces personnel. He and two bodyguards were airlifted for emergency medical treatment but all three died during the flight to Mexico City.
What has the cartel done in response to El Mencho’s death?
The CJNG set up more than 250 roadblocks across 20 states, burned vehicles, and launched coordinated attacks on security forces. At least 25 National Guard members were killed in six separate attacks. The cartel’s second-in-command offered more than $1,000 for each soldier killed. Major cities suspended public transportation and schools, and residents were told to stay indoors for safety.
