Law enforcement officials and civilians stroll close to the burned wreckage of a car used as a barricade by members of organized crime, following a collection of detentions by federal forces, in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Feb. 22, 2026.
Michelle Freyria | Reuters
The Mexican military killed the chief of the Jalisco New Technology Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” on Sunday, decapitating what had turn into Mexico’s strongest cartel and giving the federal government its largest prize but to point out the Trump administration its efforts.
Oseguera Cervantes was wounded in an operation to seize him Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco a few two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara and he died whereas being flown to Mexico Metropolis, the Protection Division stated in an announcement. The state is the bottom of the cartel identified for trafficking enormous portions of fentanyl and different medication to the USA.
In the course of the operation, troops got here below hearth and killed 4 folks on the location. Three extra folks, together with Oseguera Cervantes, had been wounded and later died, the assertion stated. Two others had been arrested and armored autos, rocket launchers and different arms had been seized. Three members of the armed forces had been wounded and receiving medical remedy.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico stated on X that the operation was carried out by Mexican particular forces “throughout the framework of bilateral cooperation, with U.S. authorities offering complementary intelligence.”
Roadblocks and burning autos
The killing of the highly effective drug lord set off a number of hours of roadblocks with burning autos in Jalisco and different states. Such techniques are generally utilized by the cartels to dam army operations. Jalisco canceled college within the state for Monday.
Movies circulating on social media confirmed plumes of smoke billowing over the vacationer metropolis of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, and other people sprinting by means of the airport of the state’s capital in panic. On Sunday afternoon, Air Canada introduced it was suspending flights to Puerto Vallarta “on account of an ongoing safety scenario” and suggested clients to not go to their airport.
In Guadalajara, the state capital, burning autos blocked roads. Mexico’s second-largest metropolis is scheduled to host matches throughout this summer season’s soccer World Cup.
The U.S. State Division warned U.S. residents in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon states to stay in secure locations because of the ongoing safety operations. Canada’s embassy in Mexico warned its residents in Puerto Vallarta to shelter in place and customarily to maintain a low profile in Jalisco.
Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus advised residents to remain at dwelling and suspended public transportation.
U.S. had provided as much as $15 million for his seize
The U.S. State Division had provided a reward of as much as $15 million for data resulting in the arrest of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Technology Cartel, referred to as CJNG, is among the strongest and quickest rising felony organizations in Mexico and was born in 2009.
In February, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a overseas terrorist group.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, like her predecessor, has criticized the “kingpin” technique of earlier administrations that took out cartel leaders solely to set off explosions of violence as cartels fractured. Whereas she has remained in style in Mexico, safety is a persistent concern and since U.S. President Donald Trump took workplace a 12 months in the past, she has been below great stress to point out outcomes in opposition to drug trafficking.
On Sunday, Sheinbaum applauded Mexican safety forces and referred to as for calm in a publish on X.
A Jalisco state official who requested anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to talk publicly stated {that a} member of the Nationwide Guard died in Tapalpa throughout the operation, a jail guard was killed at a lockup in Puerto Vallarta when prisoners rioted, and an agent from the Jalisco state prosecutor’s workplace was killed in Guadalajara. Particulars weren’t instantly obtainable.
Generally known as an aggressive cartel
The Jalisco cartel has been one of the aggressive cartels in its assaults on the army — together with on helicopters — and is a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and putting in mines. In 2020, it carried out a spectacular assassination try with grenades and high-powered rifles within the coronary heart of Mexico Metropolis in opposition to the then head of the capital’s police pressure and now federal safety secretary.
The DEA considers the cartel to be as highly effective because the Sinaloa cartel, certainly one of Mexico’s most notorious felony teams, with a presence in all 50 U.S. states. It is among the primary suppliers of cocaine to the U.S. market and, just like the Sinaloa cartel, earns billions from the manufacturing of fentanyl and methamphetamines. Sinaloa, nevertheless, has been weakened by infighting after the lack of its leaders Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, each in U.S. custody.
Oseguera Cervantes, 59, was initially from Aguililla within the neighboring state of Michoacan. He had been considerably concerned in drug trafficking actions for the reason that Nineties. When he was youthful, he migrated to the U.S. the place he was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin within the U.S. District Courtroom for the Northern District of California in 1994 and served practically three years in jail.
Following his launch from custody, Oseguera Cervantes returned to Mexico and reengaged in drug trafficking exercise with drug lord Ignacio Coronel Villarreal, alias “Nacho Coronel.” After Villarreal’s dying, Oseguera Cervantes and Erik Valencia Salazar, alias “El 85,” created the Jalisco New Technology Cartel round 2007.
Initially, they labored for the Sinaloa Cartel, however finally cut up and for years the 2 cartels have battled for territory throughout Mexico.
Indicted a number of instances within the U.S.
Since 2017, Oseguera Cervantes has been indicted a number of instances in the USA District Courtroom for the District of Columbia.
The latest superseding indictment, filed on April 5, 2022, expenses Oseguera Cervantes with conspiracy and distribution of managed substances (methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl) for the aim of unlawful importation into the USA and use of firearms throughout and in reference to drug trafficking offenses. Oseguera Cervantes can be charged below the Drug Kingpin Enforcement Act for guiding a seamless felony enterprise.
Final 12 months, folks trying to find lacking kinfolk founds piles of sneakers and different clothes, in addition to bone fragments at what authorities later stated was a Jalisco cartel recruitment and coaching web site.
