After hearing the news on a Sunday, Mexico’s mood changed in a matter of hours. Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, popularly known as “El Mencho” throughout the nation, was killed following wounds sustained during a military operation in the Jalisco mountain town of Tapalpa. His name had hung over Mexico like a storm’s humidity for years. That presence is no longer there. However, the events that transpired after his death indicate that control is not always as effective as absence.
Highways were on fire by dusk. Black-clad armed men set fire to buses and blocked intersections in Guadalajara, the World Cup host city, getting ready for international attention. Smoke floated over the horizon. Videos of passengers rushing through the airport while dragging their bags showed that panic was spreading more quickly than official statements. Residents heard a lot of the sirens that are layered over distant explosions, which is a certain sound associated with unrest.
Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes |
| Alias | El Mencho |
| Date of Birth | July 17, 1966 (reported) |
| Date of Death | February 22, 2026 |
| Age at Death | 59 |
| Place of Death | Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Role | Leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) |
| US Bounty | $15 million reward for capture |
| Criminal Allegations | Drug trafficking (fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine), organized crime, violence |
| Reference | https://www.aljazeera.com |
The operation, which was carried out by Mexican forces with assistance from U.S. intelligence, was deemed successful by the government. El Mencho passed away while being transported to Mexico City after suffering injuries during the raid. It has been reported that at least nine cartel members were killed. There were three wounded soldiers. Officials presented it as a watershed moment.
It might very well be. But caution is encouraged by this place’s history.
El Mencho wasn’t your average cartel leader. He established one of the most violent criminal networks in the hemisphere as the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, ruthlessly enlarging its territory. He pushed into neighboring states, leaving charred reminders of who was in charge, and favored force over tactful negotiation, in contrast to the previous Sinaloa leadership. Under his leadership, the CJNG extorted small businesses in places that don’t often make the news around the world while trafficking fentanyl at a scale that worried Washington.
Strangely, he continued to be elusive. No new photos. A few appearances in public. An army led by a ghost.
It’s difficult to overlook the location of his death’s symbolic meaning. Known for its pine forests and weekend cabins, Tapalpa is a haven for middle-class families seeking to get away from the bustle of the city. It seems almost unbelievable that one of the most wanted men in the world was cornered there. Troops traversing forested hills. Tourist roads are being cut through by armored vehicles. A peaceful town turns into a battleground. Then the reprisal started.
Cartel members set cars on fire and blocked roads in at least a dozen states. Supermarkets and banks were burned. Public transit was suspended. In a number of areas, schools closed. Visitors to Puerto Vallarta, a well-liked beach resort for Canadians and Americans, were advised to stay put. It seems deliberate to watch footage of hooded men dousing buses in gasoline during the day, as if to show off their remaining strength.
This pattern is well-known. Violence erupted after Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán was taken into custody. In 2019, when his son was briefly arrested, Culiacán’s outburst caused authorities to free him in a matter of hours. The removal of a cartel leader frequently destabilizes the organization, igniting internal rivalries and inciting external aggression, but it does not dissolve it.
Perhaps the geopolitical pressure surrounding this moment is what makes it unique.
A $15 million reward had been offered by the US for information that would result in El Mencho’s capture. Regarding fentanyl flows, Washington has become more outspoken and has occasionally alluded to taking unilateral action inside Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum has quietly increased intelligence cooperation while publicly rejecting that idea. The operation’s timing, which coincides with increased demands from the United States, points to coordination that would have been politically sensitive just a few years ago.
However, structural realities cannot be resolved by cooperation. Every year, hundreds of thousands of weapons from the United States travel south, supplying organizations like CJNG with firepower. North of the border, there is still a high demand for drugs. The symbol is addressed when a leader is removed. The equipment is still there.
The issue of succession is another.
“El Menchito,” El Mencho’s son, is already incarcerated. In the United States, his brother is incarcerated. In the absence of a definite successor, local leaders might start dividing the cartel into rival groups. At least temporarily, that fragmentation frequently results in increased violence rather than decreased violence. Whether Mexico is on the verge of another internal cartel war is already up for debate among analysts.
Ordinary life goes on in an uncomfortable rhythm in the meantime.
Residents of Guadalajara reportedly remained at home, and by late afternoon, the streets were quiet. Gas stations were closed. There will be no concerts. With the World Cup just a few months away, organizers now have to assess the security risks in a city that recently experienced a taste of well-planned mayhem. Whether this violence will quickly subside or continue to simmer in various parts of the nation is still up in the air.
It’s easy to see El Mencho’s murder as a resounding win—the downfall of a mobster after years of eluding capture. And it is, in a limited sense. One of the most feared criminal networks in the Americas was led by a 59-year-old man who used to grow avocados.
One can’t help but feel that this is more of a turning point than an end, though, as they watch the smoke rise from highways and airports packed with stranded travelers. It is dramatic when a figurehead is removed. It’s much harder to reshape the ecosystem that gave rise to him.
This story is not new to Mexico. Names shift. Each fire has the same appearance.