Mexico Army Says Drug Lord El Mencho Killed In Operation

VoM News Desk | February 23, 2026 | 06:47 AM IST | Breaking News, World | Follow on Google News

Mexico Army Says Drug Lord El Mencho Killed In Operation

Mexico’s army announced Sunday that it had killed powerful drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” in an operation that triggered a wave of violence across several parts of the country.

Oseguera, 59, was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most violent criminal organizations. According to a military statement, he was wounded in a clash with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa in Jalisco state and died while being flown to Mexico City. The United States had placed a $15 million bounty on him.

The army said six suspected cartel gunmen were killed during the operation and three soldiers were wounded. Two suspects were arrested, and authorities seized heavy weaponry, including rocket launchers capable of downing aircraft and destroying armored vehicles. The statement noted that the raid was carried out with Mexico’s military intelligence and “complementary information” from US authorities.

Violence Erupts Across Western Mexico

In retaliation, gunmen blocked more than 20 roads in Jalisco state with burning vehicles. The unrest spread to neighboring Michoacán and the resort city of Puerto Vallarta.

Jalisco, which is set to host four matches during the upcoming FIFA World Cup, cancelled all large public events on Sunday and suspended in-person classes on Monday. In the state capital Guadalajara, streets were largely deserted as shops, pharmacies and gas stations shut down.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged citizens to remain calm, saying the federal government was coordinating closely with state authorities.

Major Blow To Organized Crime

Oseguera is among the most significant cartel leaders killed or captured since the arrests of Joaquin Guzman, known as “El Chapo,” and Ismael Zambada Garcia, co-founders of the Sinaloa cartel, both of whom are serving prison sentences in the United States.

Formed in 2009, the CJNG grew into a dominant force in drug trafficking, accused by the US Justice Department of smuggling cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States. Washington has classified the cartel as a terrorist organization.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described the killing as “a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world,” calling Oseguera one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins.

The operation comes amid mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump on Mexico to curb the flow of fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States. Following the outbreak of violence, the US State Department urged American citizens in affected regions to shelter in place, while Canada issued travel warnings for parts of Jalisco, Guerrero and Michoacán.

Several US and Canadian airlines cancelled dozens of flights to Mexico as security concerns escalated.

VoM News Desk

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