A soldier stands guard by a charred automobile after it was set on fireplace, in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, following the dying of the chief of the Jalisco New Era Cartel, Nemesio Oseguera, often called “El Mencho.”
Armando Solis/AP
cover caption
toggle caption
Armando Solis/AP
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Faculty was canceled in a number of Mexican states and native and overseas governments alike warned their residents to remain inside, as widespread violence erupted following the military’s killing of the highly effective chief of the Jalisco New Era Cartel.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, often called “El Mencho” was the boss of one of many fastest-growing legal networks in Mexico, infamous for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to america and staging brazen assaults towards authorities officers who challenged it.
He was killed throughout a shoot-out in his dwelling state of Jalisco because the Mexican army tried to seize him. Cartel members responded with violence throughout the nation, blocking roads and setting fireplace to automobiles.
President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm and authorities introduced late Sunday they’d cleared many of the greater than 250 cartel roadblocks throughout 20 states. The White Home confirmed that the U.S. supplied intelligence assist to the operation to seize the cartel chief and applauded Mexico’s military for taking down a person who was probably the most needed criminals in each international locations.
Mexico hoped the dying of the world’s largest fentanyl traffickers would ease Trump administration strain to do extra towards the cartels, however many remained hunkered down and on edge as they waited to see the highly effective cartel’s response.
Many worry extra violence
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state and Mexico’s second-largest metropolis, was nearly fully shut down on Sunday as fearful residents stayed dwelling.
Passengers arriving to town’s worldwide airport Sunday evening have been informed it was working with restricted personnel due to the burst of violence.
Jacinta Murcia, a 64-year-old diet merchandise vendor, was amongst these nervously strolling late Sunday evening by the airport, the place earlier within the day vacationers sprinted and ducked behind chairs fearing violence. Most flights into town have been suspended on Sunday.
Murcia anxiously scrolled by information tales on social media exhibiting the face of “El Mencho” and despatched messages to her youngsters, who have been monitoring her location as she tried to journey throughout town to her home after darkish.
“My plan as we speak leaving the airport is to see if there are any taxis, however I am terrified of every part. That there are blockades, that there is a curfew, that one thing might occur,” she stated. “I am on their own.”
Authorities in Jalisco, Michoacan and Guanajuato reported a minimum of 14 different individuals killed Sunday, together with seven Nationwide Guard troops.
Movies circulating on social media confirmed vacationers in Puerto Vallarta strolling on the seashore with smoke rising within the distance.
In one other a part of the airport a bunch of aged Mexicans gathered, discussing the best way to get dwelling.
“We higher all go collectively,” one stated. “Go together with God.”
A blow towards a cartel could possibly be a diplomatic coup
David Mora, Mexico analyst for Worldwide Disaster Group, stated the seize and outburst of violence marks a degree of inflection in Sheinbaum’s push to crack down on cartels and relieve U.S. pressures.
U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded Mexico do extra to battle the smuggling of the often-deadly drug fentanyl, threatening to impose extra tariffs or take unilateral army motion if the nation doesn’t present outcomes.
There have been early indicators that Mexico’s efforts have been nicely acquired by america.
U.S. Amb. Ron Johnson acknowledged the success of the Mexican armed forces and their sacrifice in a press release late Sunday. He added that “underneath the management of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bilateral cooperation has reached unprecedented ranges.”
However it might additionally pave the best way for extra violence as rival legal teams benefit from the blow dealt to the CJNG, Mora stated.
“This is likely to be a second through which these different teams see that the cartel is weakened and need to seize the chance for them to increase management and to realize management over Cartel Jalisco in these states,” he stated.
“Ever since President Sheinbaum has been in energy, the military has been far more confrontational, combative towards legal teams in Mexico,” Mora stated. “That is signaling to the U.S. that if we maintain cooperating, sharing intelligence, Mexico can do it, we do not want U.S. troops on Mexican soil.”
‘El Mencho’ was a significant goal
Oseguera Cervantes, who was wounded within the operation to seize him Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, a couple of two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara, died whereas being flown to Mexico Metropolis, the Protection Division stated in a press release.
Throughout the operation, troops got here underneath fireplace and killed 4 individuals on the location. Three extra individuals, together with Oseguera Cervantes, have been wounded and later died, the assertion stated.
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated by way of X that the U.S. authorities supplied intelligence assist for the operation. “‘El Mencho’ was a high goal for the Mexican and United States authorities as one of many high traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland,” she wrote. She counseled Mexico’s army for its work.
The U.S. State Division had supplied a reward of as much as $15 million for data resulting in the arrest of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Era Cartel is likely one of the strongest and quickest rising legal organizations in Mexico and commenced working round 2009.
In February 2025, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a overseas terrorist group.
Sheinbaum has criticized the “kingpin” technique of earlier administrations that took out cartel leaders, solely to set off explosions of violence as cartels fractured. Whereas she has remained standard in Mexico, safety is a persistent concern and since U.S. President Donald Trump took workplace a 12 months in the past, she has been underneath super strain to point out outcomes towards drug trafficking.
The Jalisco cartel has been probably the most aggressive cartels in its assaults on the army — together with on helicopters — and is a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and putting in mines. In 2020, it carried out a spectacular assassination try with grenades and high-powered rifles within the coronary heart of Mexico Metropolis towards the then head of the capital’s police power and now federal safety secretary.
