Mexican Cartel Strategic Note No. 39: CJNG Leader “El Mencho” Killed in Shootout in Jalisco

On 22 February 2026 the Mexican armed forces assisted by US intelligence successfully deployed a special enforcement operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco that resulted in the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho” leader of the CJNG. This research note provides an initial report on the situation.

Key Information: “Con ayuda de Estados Unidos: Así fue el operativo en Tapalpa en el que murió ‘El Mencho’, líder del CJNG.” El Financiero. 22 February 2026, https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/nacional/2026/02/22/asi-fue-el-operativo-en-tapalpa-en-el-que-murio-el-mencho-lider-del-cjng/:

La Sedena detalló que el operativo en Tapalpa se llevó a cabo luego de “trabajos de inteligencia militar central”. En la acción participaron elementos del Centro Nacional de Inteligencia y de la Fiscalía General de República (FEMDO), Fuerzas Especiales del Ejército Mexicano planearon.

Además, la acción militar contó con la participación de aeronaves de la Fuerza Aérea y la Fuerza Especial de Reacción Inmediata de la Guardia Nacional “para lograr la detención de Ruben ‘N’ (a) Mencho”.

De acuerdo con la Sedena, las autoridades mexicanas lograron detener al ‘Mencho’; sin embargo, integrantes del Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación, que fue fundado por ‘Los Torcidos’, agredieron a los militares.[1]

Key Information: Liliana Padilla, “Reunión de ‘El Mencho’ con una pareja sentimental permitió localizarlo: Defensa” Milenio. 23 February 2026, https://www.milenio.com/politica/sedena-detalla-operativo-captura-mencho-lider-cjng:

La Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional localizó a Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, y líder del Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación, gracias a una de sus parejas sentimentales, quien acudió a visitarlo en Tapalpa, Jalisco, informó el titular de Sedena Ricardo Trevilla.

“El 20 de febrero se ubicó a un hombre de confianza de una de las parejas del Mencho, que la trasladó a Tapalpa, Jalisco, donde se reunió con el Mencho. Ella salió, pero él se quedó ahí con un operativo de seguridad”, explicó durante la conferencia matutina.

Los militares realizaron un cerco en estados aledaños a Jalisco, para no levantar sospechas entre el líder criminal o sus subalternos.

“Los elementos del Ejército no llegó a Jalisco, sino estuvo en situación de alerta en lugares aledaños a ese estado. También se contó con apoyo aéreo de la Fuerza Aérea Mexicana. Una vez que se corrobora, el 22 de febrero, la presencia del Mencho, la fuerza terrestre se desplaza al lugar en el que él estaba”, mencionó.[2]

Key Information: Ana Laura Bañuelos, “‘El Mencho’ murió durante el traslado a CDMX tras operativo en Jalisco, confirma Sedena.” Radio Formula. 22 February 2026, https://www.radioformula.com.mx/nacional/el-mencho-murio-durante-el-traslado-a-la-cdmx-tras-enfentamiento-confirma-sedena-20260222-0035.html:

La Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena ) confirmó la muerte de Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, quien falleció durante su traslado vía aérea a la CDMX tras un enfrentamiento con fuerzas federales.

El operativo contra el CJNG se llevó a cabo en Tapalpa, Jalisco, con el trabajo conjunto de la Fiscalía General de la República, el Centro Nacional de Inteligencia y Fuerzas Especiales del Ejército mexicano, así como aeronaves de la Fuerza Aérea y la Fuerza Especial de Reacción Inmediata.[3]

Key Information: Arturo Rodríguez García, “CJNG Sedena reporta muerte de “El Mencho”, líder del CJNG; hubo coordinación con EU.” Proceso. 22 February 2026, https://www.proceso.com.mx/nacional/2026/2/22/sedena-reporta-muerte-de-el-mencho-lider-del-cjng-hubo-coordinacion-con-eu-368926.html.

Destaca en el informe la mención de que en los trabajos de inteligencia participaron “con información complementaria” en cooperación “y coordinación” con Estados Unidos.

Además, fueron detenidos otros dos integrantes de la organización delictiva cuya identidad se desconoce, logrando el aseguramiento de vehículos blindados, armamento diverso y lanzacohetes. En el operativo resultaro en heridos tres elementos militares quienes reciben atención médica en la Ciudad de México.

Como se ha dado a conocer a lo largo de esta jornada, los disturbios en varias entidades del país, especialmente en Jalisco, mantienen a la población civil sitada. Al respecto, la única mención del comunicado fue:“En estos momentos se están concentrando elementos de la Guardia Nacional y tropas del Ejército Mexicano del centro del país y estados aledaños a Jalisco, para reforzar la seguridad.”[4]

Key Information: María Verza, “What to know about the killing of the powerful cartel leader ‘El Mencho’ in Mexico.” Associated Press. 23 February 2026, https://apnews.com/article/mexico-jalisco-el-mencho-cartel-killing-8acfda160817fb27bed1914e769e955b:

The Mexican army killed the country’s most powerful cartel leader and one of the United States’ most wanted fugitives, notching a major victory while cartel members responded with a wave of violence across the country.

The killing Sunday of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes during an attempt to capture him in Jalisco state was the highest-profile blow against cartels since the recapture of former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán a decade ago.

Following Oseguera Cervantes’ death, security forces were placed on alert throughout the country as gunmen unleashed violence. Cars burned out by cartel members blocked roads in 20 Mexican states. People locked themselves in their homes in Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city and Jalisco’s capital, and school was canceled Monday in several states.[5]

Incident Summary

On 22 February 2026, the Mexican armed forces, with American intelligence, successfully deployed a special enforcement operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, that resulted in the detention and subsequent death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the CJNG. The military traced one of his sentimental partners, located him in Tepalpa, and prepared a military operation with special forces. General Ricardo Trevilla provided a breakdown of the operation, stating they had air support from 6 helicopters, Tejano firefighters, and troops on the ground. The security forces of “El Mencho” fought back, and there were eight casualties as he tried to go deeper into the rural areas and forced a helicopter to make an emergency landing. El Mencho and two of his bodyguards were shot, and two other combatants were detained. Several soldiers were injured during the operation. El Mencho died on the helicopter, so he was transferred to Mexico City to avoid violence in Guadalajara. Hugo H “El Tuli,” who was the right hand of El Mencho and in charge of financial logistics for the CJNG, was organizing violence against the military as well as blockades across several states due to the arrest of El Mencho, who was found in El Grullo and was killed by Mexican security forces.

Analysis

The creation of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) emerged from the ashes of another cartel called El Cartel del Milenio, founded in the 1970s and based in Michoacán but with operations extending across Jalisco, Nayarit, and Colima as well. [6] The Cartel del Milenio in the 2000’s received protection from the Sinaloa Cartel through “Nacho” Coronel, who gave them direct orders.[7] The leader of the Cartel del Milenio during this period was Oscar Orlando Nava Valencia, “El Lobo,” who oversaw the Sinaloa Cartel’s finances and expanding its operations to Mexico City.[8] The arrest of Oscar Nava Valecia “El Lobo” in October 2009, as well as the assassination of “Nacho” Coronel in July of 2010, caused the Cártel del Milenio to fracture into two.[9]

Two factions were formed, known as La Resistencia and Los Torcidos, who would fight over control of drug trafficking in Jalisco. [10] Los Torcidos would emerge victorious.[11] Nemesio Osegura Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, took over control of the group alongside his partners Erick Valencia ‘El 85’ and Martin Arzola Ortega “El 53.”[12] This would mark the beginning of what we now know as CJNG. The group made their first public appearance in 2011 when they left 35 bodies in Veracruz and would name themselves Los Mata Zetasas they would battle Los Zetas over drug trade routes in Tamaulipas.[13] In 2012, “El Mencho” would betray “El 85” and hand him over to the authorities, taking over leadership alongside his brother-in-law, Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, “El Cuini.”[14]

The capture of Jose Angel Carrasco Coronel “El Changel,” who was the nephew of Ignacio Coronel, would cause a restructuring in the Cartel de Sinaloa that would break the remaining links between Sinaloa and Los Cuinis and Los Mata Zetas in January of 2013, causing a war over who would be the leader of Jalisco.[15] Between 2010 and 2014, the CJNG expanded into various states, including Veracruz, Colima, Michoacán, Nayarit, Guerrero, and Morelos, to consolidate funds, weapons, and personnel.[16] Currently the CJNG is considered the most powerful organized criminal group operating within Mexico.

Since the kingpin strategy was widely deployed in the past and, to some degree, responsible for the creation and ascension of CJNG, we can expect an increase in short-term violence. The CJNG will have to either restructure internally and maintain its operational capabilities intact, or factions may split, leading to internal wars for control of the criminal organization and its territories. The fracture and diversification of large, organized crime groups have occurred several times in Mexico and are generally associated with higher levels of violence. The arrest will provide Sheinbaum with a symbolically important win as she continues to build her case for cooperation with the United States and to avoid any unilateral intervention by the US.

Sources

Ana Laura Bańuelos, “‘El Mencho’ murió durante el traslado a CDMX tras operativo en Jalisco, confirma Sedena.” Radio Formula. 22 February 2026, https://www.radioformula.com.mx/nacional/el-mencho-murio-durante-el-traslado-a-la-cdmx-tras-enfentamiento-confirma-sedena-20260222-0035.html.

“Con ayuda de Estados Unidos: Así fue el operativo en Tapalpa en el que murió ‘El Mencho’, líder del CJNG.” El Financiero. 22 February 2026, https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/nacional/2026/02/22/asi-fue-el-operativo-en-tapalpa-en-el-que-murio-el-mencho-lider-del-cjng/.

Liliana Padilla, “Reunión de ‘El Mencho’ con una pareja sentimental permitió localizarlo: Defensa” Milenio. 23 February 2026, https://www.milenio.com/politica/sedena-detalla-operativo-captura-mencho-lider-cjng.

Arturo Rodríguez García, “CJNG Sedena reporta muerte de “El Mencho”, líder del CJNG; hubo coordinación con EU.” Proceso. 22 February 2026, https://www.proceso.com.mx/nacional/2026/2/22/sedena-reporta-muerte-de-el-mencho-lider-del-cjng-hubo-coordinacion-con-eu-368926.html.

María Verza, “What to know about the killing of the powerful cartel leader ‘El Mencho’ in Mexico.” Associated Press. 23 February 2026, https://apnews.com/article/mexico-jalisco-el-mencho-cartel-killing-8acfda160817fb27bed1914e769e955b.

Endnotes

[1] In English, the title reads: “With the help of the United States: This was the operation in Tapalpa in which ‘El Mencho’, leader of the CJNG, died.” In English, the text reads: “Sedena provided details on the Tapalpa operation in which members of the National Center for Intelligence, the prosecutor’s office and the Mexican Special Forces that planned the operation. […]The military operation also included the Mexican Airforce to achieve the detention of Mencho. […] According to Sedena, the security forces were able to detain Mencho but were attacked by members of the CJNG.”

[2] In English, the title reads: “’El Mencho’s’ meeting with a romantic partner allowed him to be located: Defense” In English, the text reads: “The Ministry of National Defense located Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, thanks to one of his romantic partners, who came to visit him in Tapalpa, Jalisco, reported the head of Sedena Ricardo Trevilla. […] ‘On February 20, a trusted man of one of Mencho’s partners was located, who took her to Tapalpa, Jalisco, where she met with Mencho. She went out, but he stayed there with a security operation,’ he explained during the morning conference. […] The military created a perimeter in states surrounding Jalisco, so as not to arouse suspicion among the criminal leader or his subordinates. […] ‘The elements of the Army did not arrive in Jalisco, but were on alert in places near that state. There was also air support from the Mexican Air Force. Once the presence of Mencho is corroborated, on February 22, the ground force moves to the place where he was,’ he said.”

[3] In English, the title reads: “‘El Mencho’ died during transfer to Mexico City following an operation in Jalisco, confirms Sedena” In English, the text reads: “The Secretary of National Defense (Sedena) confirmed the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, who died during his air transfer to Mexico City following a confrontation with federal forces. […] The operation against the CJNG took place in Tapalpa, Jalisco, with the joint work of the Attorney General’s Office, the National Intelligence Center, and Special Forces of the Mexican Army, as well as aircraft from the Air Force and the Immediate Reaction Special Force.”

[4] In English, the title reads: “CJNG Sedena reports death of ‘El Mencho,’ leader of the CJNG; there was coordination with the United States” In English, the text reads: “The report highlights that the intelligence work for this operation was conducted ‘with complementary information’ in cooperation ‘and coordination’ with the United States.
In addition, two other members of the criminal organization, whose identities are unknown, were arrested, resulting in the seizure of armored vehicles, various weapons, and rocket launchers. […] Three military personnel were injured in the operation and are receiving medical attention in Mexico City. […] As has been reported throughout this day, the disturbances in several states of the country, especially in Jalisco, keep the civilian population under siege. Regarding this, the only mention in the communiqué was: ‘At this time, elements of the National Guard and troops of the Mexican Army from central states and neighboring states of Jalisco are being concentrated to reinforce security.’”

[5] Maria Verza, “What to know about the killing of the powerful cartel leader ‘El Mencho’ in Mexico.” Associated Press. 23 February 2026, https://apnews.com/article/mexico-jalisco-el-mencho-cartel-killing-8acfda160817fb27bed1914e769e955b.

[6] Rubi Martinez. “¿Cómo nació el CJNG? Origen y ascenso de uno de los grupos criminales más violentos de México.” Milenio. 14 April 2025, https://www.milenio.com/policia/narcotrafico/origen-cjng-como-nacio-quien-es-el-mencho?social_type=MSQA’.

[7] Ibid.

[8] “El CJNG surgió ¿por Calderón? Esta es la historia de cómo nació este cártel” Radio Formula. 14 June 2023, https://www.radioformula.com.mx/nacional/El-CJNG-surgio-por-Calderon-Esta-es-la-historia-de-como-nacio-este-cartel-20230614-0088.html.

[9] Op cit., Martinez at Note 6.

[10] “El origen del CJNG: De la muerte de ‘Nacho’ Coronel a Teuchitlán ¿Cómo nació el imperio de ‘El Mencho’?.” El Financiero. 18 March 2025, https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/nacional/2025/03/18/el-origen-del-cjng-de-la-muerte-de-nacho-coronel-a-teuchitlan-como-nacio-el-imperio-de-el-mencho/.

[11] Op. cit., “El CJNG surgió” at Note 8.

[12] Op. cit., “El origen del CJNG” at Note 10.

[13] Op. cit., “El CJNG surgió” at Note 8.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ernesto Jimenez. “Cronología del CJNG en Jalisco: 12 años de terror que dejaron 13 mil desaparecidos.”Infobae. 20 March 2025. https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2025/03/20/cronologia-del-cjng-en-jalisco-12-anos-de-terror-que-dejaron-13-mil-desaparecidos/.

[16] Ibid.

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