Mexican army kills ‘El Mencho’; cartel retaliates with arson and roadblocks

Retaliatory violence spreads across Jalisco, prompting travel warnings and flight cancellations

February 23, 2026

Major Blow to Drug Cartels Sparks Nationwide Unrest

Roadblocks, arson and flight cancellations follow across western Mexico

The Mexican army on Sunday announced it had killed notorious drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, triggering a wave of retaliatory violence across several states.

Oseguera, widely known as “El Mencho,” was the 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). He was wounded during a clash with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa in Jalisco state and later died while being flown to Mexico City, the army said in a statement. US authorities had placed a $15 million bounty on his head.

Retaliatory violence spreads

In the immediate aftermath of the operation, gunmen allegedly linked to the cartel blocked more than 20 roads in western Jalisco with burning cars and trucks. The unrest soon spread to neighboring states, including Michoacán, and to the Pacific resort city of Puerto Vallarta.

Jalisco state, which is scheduled to host four World Cup matches this summer, cancelled public events involving large gatherings and suspended in-person classes on Monday. Streets in the state capital, Guadalajara, were largely deserted as businesses, pharmacies and fuel stations shut down.

Major blow to organized crime

Oseguera is among the most powerful Mexican drug lords to be killed since the capture of Joaquín Guzmán, known as “El Chapo,” and Ismael Zambada García, both founders of the Sinaloa cartel who are currently imprisoned in the United States.

The Mexican army said the raid was conducted using domestic military intelligence along with “complementary information” provided by US authorities. Six suspected cartel gunmen were killed in the operation, three soldiers were wounded, and two suspects were arrested. Authorities also seized an array of weapons, including rocket launchers capable of targeting aircraft and armored vehicles.

The US Justice Department has described the Jalisco cartel as one of Mexico’s most violent trafficking organizations, accusing it of smuggling cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States.

International reactions and travel warnings

The United States has designated the Jalisco cartel as a terrorist organization. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau welcomed the operation, calling Oseguera “one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins” and describing the development as significant for Mexico, the US and the broader region.

The raid comes amid pressure from US President Donald Trump for Mexico to curb the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into the United States. Trump has repeatedly threatened tariffs on Mexican exports, arguing that Mexican authorities have not done enough to combat trafficking.

Following the outbreak of violence, the United States Department of State urged US citizens in affected regions to “shelter in place until further notice.” Canada also issued travel advisories citing shootouts and explosions in Jalisco, Guerrero and Michoacán states.

Several US and Canadian airlines cancelled dozens of flights to Mexico as a precaution.

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