Mexican Military Operation in Jalisco Reportedly Kills CJNG Cartel Leader “El Mencho,” Retaliatory Violence Erupts Across Several Cities
Jalisco, Mexico — A federal military operation targeting cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho,” reportedly resulted in his death in a rural area of the state of Jalisco on Sunday, February 23, 2026, while an initial official report from Mexican security authorities was released on Monday, February 24, 2026. The incident triggered a wave of retaliatory violence attributed to armed cells linked to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), including shootings, vehicle burnings, and highway blockades in multiple urban centers.
Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) stated that the operation was part of a long-running enforcement campaign aimed at dismantling the leadership structure of CJNG, one of the most powerful transnational criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking and organized violence. Defense Secretary General Luis Cresencio Sandoval González said the mission was launched after fresh intelligence indicated the suspected presence of the cartel leader in a remote zone of Jalisco. “This operation was conducted to uphold the rule of law and protect citizens from organized crime,” he said in an official statement.
According to the military’s preliminary account, the operation began in the early hours of February 23, 2026, when special forces units and federal security personnel advanced toward a suspected safe house believed to be used by El Mencho. Authorities first carried out aerial and ground surveillance to confirm the target’s location and to reduce potential risks to nearby civilians. After securing the perimeter, troops surrounded the compound and issued verbal commands ordering those inside to surrender peacefully.
The situation escalated into a firefight after armed guards allegedly opened fire on approaching forces, prompting an intense exchange of gunfire that lasted several hours. Several cartel gunmen were reported killed at the scene. Security forces eventually secured the compound and recovered a body believed to be El Mencho, which was subsequently transferred for forensic examination, including biometric and DNA verification, to confirm the identity.
Within hours of the news circulating on the same day, coordinated acts of violence were reported in various municipalities across Jalisco and other regions with strong CJNG presence. Armed groups set vehicles ablaze on major roads, erected blockades using trucks, and carried out sporadic shootings that caused widespread panic among residents. Jalisco Public Security Coordinator Ricardo Sánchez Beruben said additional police and military units were deployed to stabilize the situation and protect public infrastructure.
Federal authorities characterized the attacks as a coordinated reaction by cartel networks intended to demonstrate operational strength and exert pressure on the state following the reported death of their top leader. Security and Citizen Protection Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez told a press briefing that the government would continue its campaign against organized crime despite the escalation. “The Mexican State will persist in weakening criminal structures and ensuring the safety of the population,” she stated.
Officials also reported signs of disinformation campaigns spreading on social media platforms, allegedly aimed at amplifying fear and confusion regarding the security situation after the operation. Authorities described the circulation of unverified claims as part of the cartel’s psychological warfare strategy to magnify the impact of the event and undermine public confidence. The government urged citizens to rely solely on verified information released by official institutions.
Security analysts warned that the reported killing of CJNG’s top leader could spark an internal power struggle among rival factions within the organization. Such fragmentation, they cautioned, may intensify violent confrontations in the short term as different groups compete for control over trafficking routes and territorial influence. Meanwhile, the Mexican government said it would reinforce security deployments in high-risk areas and proceed with formal forensic verification to legally confirm the identity of the deceased believed to be El Mencho in the Jalisco operation.