Fentanyl lord El Mencho reportedly killed in Mexico military operation
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The country’s Ministry of Defense announced that major Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho”, was killed in a military operation on Sunday morning; It was one of Mexico’s most significant blows against organized crime amid President Donald Trump’s push to intensify the crackdown on drug cartels.
The announcement came as government officials warned of clashes in the state of Jalisco and widespread criminal activity across the country, prompting the U.S. Embassy in Mexico to issue shelter-in-place advisories for multiple states.
On Sunday, Mexican troops reportedly conducted operations in Tapalpa, Jalisco, targeting former police officer Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the elusive leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), a major supplier of fentanyl to the United States.
Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” received a $15 million bounty from the United States and rose to power following the arrest of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel. Over the past 15 years, the CJNG has transformed from a local criminal group into a global human trafficking organization operating out of its stronghold in Jalisco.
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El Mencho was killed during a Mexican operation in Jalisco on February 22, 2026. (Drug Enforcement Administration)
“I have just learned that Mexican security forces have killed ‘El Mencho,’ one of the bloodiest and most brutal drug lords,” US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said in a post on X. “This is a great development for Mexico, the United States, Latin America and the world. The good guys are stronger than the bad guys.”
The Mexican Defense Ministry said the operation was carried out as part of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the United States, whose officials provided complementary intelligence that contributed to the capture of Oseguera Cervantes.
The Defense Ministry said the CJNG ringleader was injured during the capture and died en route to Mexico City.
Smoke rises into the sky over Puerto Vallarta during an operation targeting cartel activities on February 22, 2026. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
It was reported that four more people were killed in the clash between Mexican soldiers and criminal suspects in Jalisco, and Oseguera Cervantes was among the three people who were injured and died later.
Authorities said they detained two more members of the criminal group and seized a number of weapons, including armored vehicles and “rocket launchers capable of shooting down aircraft and destroying armored vehicles.”
As a result, three members of the armed forces were injured and received treatment.
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Four more people were reportedly killed in clashes in Jalisco during the operation (Gabriel Trujillo/Reuters)
Widespread criminal activity has been reported in the cartel’s stronghold of Jalisco, as well as in northern regions that serve as important borders and transit corridors for the organization.
The Mexican Government Security Cabinet reported that numerous buildings were damaged during the “violent incidents”, including approximately 20 branches of Banco del Bienestar, a state-run banking institution.
At least 21 highways remain closed, and officials say five have already reopened.
Photos showed numerous roadblocks and burning vehicles across the country; dark smoke rose into the sky; tactics that authorities say cartels often use to slow or hinder military operations.
Photos and videos shared with Fox News Digital show thick, dark smoke rising over the skyline of Puerto Vallarta, a tourist city in Jalisco on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
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Widespread criminal activity has been reported in the cartel’s stronghold of Jalisco. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
“I watch the scenes of violence in Mexico with great sadness and concern. It is not surprising that the bad guys respond with terror. But we must never lose courage,” Landau said.
The Defense Department said the Mexican National Guard and Army units in central Mexico, as well as states neighboring Jalisco, are now taking action to strengthen security.
Jalisco state Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro said, “We remain in Code Red. We reiterate our advice not to leave your homes. Clashes occur in many federal districts.” he added.
At least 21 highways are still blocked by roadblocks. (Michelle Freyria/Reuters)
Travel advisories have been issued for Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara; Tamaulipas, including Reynosa and other municipalities; and parts of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León.
“Due to ongoing security operations and related road closures and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the designated locations are required to remain in place until further notice,” the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico said. he said.
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The operation was also aided by complementary intelligence from US officials. (Michelle Freyria/Reuters)
The operation against Oseguera follows sustained pressure from the Trump administration on President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government, urging Mexico to step up its fight against drug trafficking in the face of potential threats of U.S. intervention.
