23.02.2026 07:21
The killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader and the country's most wanted drug lord El Mencho has turned Mexico into a battleground. As the intensity of the clashes increases every second, CJNG cartel members fighting against the army have been seen for the first time. Along with the released video, it was revealed that the armed group, which was thought to be a military unit, actually belongs to a drug cartel.
The Mexican army killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during an operation in the state of Jalisco. Following the operation, CJNG set up barricades blocking roads in several states, set vehicles on fire, and the intensity of clashes with security forces increased.
A WAVE OF "RETALIATION" IN THE REGION
According to reports from the Associated Press and other international media outlets, the cartel launched simultaneous attacks and sabotage in various parts of the country, primarily in Jalisco, following El Mencho's death. Authorities reported barricades made of burning vehicles on highways, urban clashes, and an expansion of security alerts.
DETAILS OF THE OPERATION: CONTACT IN JALISCO
According to reports, the Mexican army aimed to capture El Mencho during an operation in the Tapalpa region; he died from injuries sustained during the clash. It was also reported that the U.S. had long offered a reward for El Mencho, highlighting the coordination between the two countries in the intelligence aspect of the operation.
FLIGHTS AND PUBLIC ORDER AFFECTED
Flight cancellations and security alerts emerged in areas where clashes intensified. Measures such as school closures and calls for curfews were also reflected in the public eye in some states.
TACTICALLY EQUIPPED ARMED GROUPS IN FOCUS
Images shared on social media after the operation highlighted groups carrying heavy weapons and using tactical gear. In a recently circulated video, it was revealed that an armed group mistaken for military personnel actually belonged to a drug cartel.
FEAR OF LEADERSHIP VACUUM
Analysts emphasize that El Mencho's death has increased the risk of power struggles within CJNG, which could escalate violence in the short term rather than reduce it. The government frames the operation as a "turning point in the fight against organized crime."