23.02.2026 09:22
The killing of CJNG leader and the country's most wanted drug lord El Mencho, who was wanted with a $10 million reward, has stirred Mexico. As CJNG cartel members clashed with the Mexican army in the streets, footage from the area revealed that the situation would escalate further. Instead of blocking roads, the cartels are trying to make them completely unusable by digging them up.
Mexico's most wanted drug lord and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," was killed in an operation carried out by the army. It is known that El Mencho has led CJNG, one of the most powerful cartels in the country, for many years and is at the top of international crime lists by both Mexico and the United States.
Following the operation, clashes between cartel members and the Mexican army spilled into the streets, particularly in Jalisco and surrounding states, where violence escalated with road blockages and vehicles being set on fire. Thousands of vehicles were caught in the blockades, and efforts to render the roads completely unusable paralyzed daily life in the region.
SECURITY CRISIS DEEPENS
CJNG members closed highways with barricades in various states following the news of the death, and burning vehicles sent up plumes of smoke; these tactics, which hinder public mobility, are seen by security analysts as a way for the organization to demonstrate both retaliation and strength. Particularly in Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima, Guanajuato, and other regions, damaged roads have caused disruptions in emergency services and transportation lines.
CLASHES AFTER THE OPERATION
In the operation where El Mencho was killed, it is reported that some militants of CJNG, equipped with heavy weapons and armored vehicles, encountered the army's fire, and clashes continued throughout the night with explosions like fireworks. Efforts to re-establish control by security forces are ongoing in some states.
TOURISM AND SECURITY WARNINGS
As the impact of the clashes widens, countries like the United States and Canada have issued security warnings to their citizens living in or traveling to the region, some flights have been canceled, and the public has been advised to stay at home.