Mexico announces killing of drug cartel kingpin ‘El Mencho’

Mexican leader Sheinbaum says government is responding to reported violence after operation against the cartel leader.Published On 22 Feb 2026Mexican security forces have killed a drug lord who led one of the most powerful criminal organisations in the country, triggering a wave of violence in several areas, including the western state of Jalisco.The Mexican Secretariat of National Defence said Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho”, was killed in a major military operation in the town of Tapalpa in Jalisco on Sunday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US military says it attacked vessel in Pacific Ocean, killing three peoplelist 2 of 3World reacts as US top court limits Trump’s tariff powerslist 3 of 3Trump tariff chaos: What does 15% levy mean for trade deals the US signed?end of listSeven other members of Oseguera’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) were also killed in the raid.The operation set off a wave of ⁠violence, with torched cars and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states. Jalisco’s capital, Guadalajara, was turned into a ghost town Sunday night as civilians hunkered down.School was canceled on Monday in several states.“At this time, elements of the Mexican National Guard and Mexican Army troops from the centre of the country and states neighbouring Jalisco are mobilising to reinforce the security of this state,” the Defence Secretariat said in a statement.“With these actions, the Secretariat of National Defence reaffirms its commitment to contributing to the strengthening of Mexico’s security.”Oseguera, the leader of the powerful CJNG, one of Mexico’s most violent and dominant criminal organisations, spent decades evading justice.Washington, which had a $15m reward for information leading to Oseguera’s arrest, was quick to laud the raid.“I’ve just been informed that Mexican security forces have killed ‘El Mencho,’ one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins,” US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said in a post on X, calling the operation “a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world”.Of the seven cartel members killed on Sunday, four had been injured but later succumbed to their wounds. Three others were arrested, according to the Secretariat of National Defence.