Mexico's most wanted drug lord 'El Mencho' killed in military operation

BBC News - WorldEN 3 min read 100% complete February 22, 2026 at 11:07 PM

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Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as "El Mencho," the leader of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) drug cartel and Mexico's most wanted man, was killed on Sunday during a Mexican security operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco state. The operation, assisted by information from the U.S., resulted in clashes between CJNG members and the army, leaving four cartel members dead and three army personnel injured. In retaliation, the CJNG set cars ablaze, built roadblocks, and attacked security forces in eight states, including Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, prompting a "code red" warning for residents of Jalisco. El Mencho, a 59-year-old former police officer, led a vast criminal organization responsible for trafficking drugs into the U.S., for whose capture the U.S. had offered a $15 million reward. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo urged calm, stating that activities were proceeding normally in most parts of the country.