Mexican Special Forces Kill Major Cartel Boss Leading to Vicious Reprisal Attacks
Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and one of the world’s most sought-after drug traffickers, was killed in a military operation in western Mexico on Sunday.
In a statement, Mexico’s Ministry of Defense said the operation, which took place in the mountainous town of Tapalpa in Jalisco, involved multiple federal agencies and was carried out with the cooperation of U.S. authorities.
Further details regarding U.S. assistance were not disclosed, but Reuters reported that a newly formed U.S.-led intelligence group, the Joint Interagency Task Force–Counter Cartel, provided Mexico with a detailed “target package” on Oseguera Cervantes. The file reportedly contained information from U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Authorities said seven other CJNG members were killed in the operation, and two additional members were taken into custody. Officials also confiscated armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and other weapons from the group.
Three military personnel were injured in the operation and are currently receiving medical treatment, the Ministry of Defense said.
Violence Erupts Nationwide
In the hours following El Mencho’s death, suspected CJNG members unleashed widespread violence across Jalisco and neighboring states.
Vehicles, buses, and businesses were set ablaze in cities including Puerto Vallarta and Zapopan, while armed groups clashed with security forces.
In Guadalajara, the state capital, armed CJNG gunmen reportedly stormed the international airport and the Guadalajara Civil Hospital. The attack comes as the city prepares to host matches in this summer’s soccer World Cup.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro activated a “code red,” a state emergency protocol, in response to the clashes. In a series of posts on X, he announced that public transportation would be suspended statewide and in-person classes on Monday, Feb. 23, would be canceled until the situation is under control.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government is addressing the unrest, adding that in the “vast majority of the national territory, activities are proceeding with complete normality.”
“There is absolute coordination with the governments of all states; we must remain informed and calm,” Sheinbaum wrote on X.
Airlines Halt Flights
Major airlines, including Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, have canceled or diverted flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports due to the unrest.
Air Canada temporarily suspended operations at Puerto Vallarta Airport due to what it described as “an ongoing security situation in Puerto Vallarta” affecting airport operations. “We are monitoring the situation and in contact with local authorities who are working to resolve the issue,” the airline said.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert for several regions of Mexico, urging citizens to shelter in place amid “ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity.” The advisory covers parts of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León.
Canada has also issued a high-risk travel advisory, warning citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the country.
Founded in 2009 by Oseguera Cervantes, a former police officer, the CJNG grew into one of Mexico’s most violent and far-reaching criminal organizations. Under his leadership, the cartel expanded from synthetic drug production to global trafficking networks spanning the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had long listed Oseguera Cervantes as one of its most wanted fugitives, offering a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Since 2017, the CJNG leader has faced multiple indictments in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The latest superseding indictment, filed on April 5, 2022, accuses Oseguera Cervantes of conspiracy and the distribution of controlled substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, with the intent to illegally import them into the U.S., as well as using firearms in connection with drug trafficking offenses.
In February 2025, the Trump administration designated the CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization, citing that in addition to trafficking fentanyl, the cartel “engages in extortion, migrant smuggling, oil and mineral theft, as well as weapons trade.”
El Mencho’s death marks a major victory for Mexican authorities and a milestone in U.S.–Mexico security cooperation.
“I’ve just been informed that Mexican security forces have killed ‘El Mencho,’ one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins,” U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said in a post on X, calling the operation “a great development for Mexico, the U.S., Latin America, and the world.”
