Mexican army kills CJNG leader El Mencho in U.S.-backed operation

Mexican armed forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, on February 22, 2026 in Tapalpa, Jalisco, in an operation that Mexico's defense ministry said used complementary intelligence from US authorities. The US had placed a $10 million bounty on El Mencho, who oversaw a fentanyl production and distribution network responsible for tens of thousands of American overdose deaths annually. CJNG retaliated by unleashing widespread cartel blockades, vehicle burnings, and armed confrontations across Jalisco and neighboring states.