Who was El Mencho, the former officer who rose to lead a dominant cartel in Mexico?
He was killed by Mexican special forces on Sunday, 22 February 2026, in an operation that immediately triggered outbreaks of violence, including the burning of vehicles in areas such as Zapopan
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as "El Mencho," was the 59-year-old leader and co-founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico's most powerful criminal organizations.
He was killed by Mexican special forces on Sunday, 22 February 2026, in an operation that immediately triggered outbreaks of violence, including the burning of vehicles in areas such as Zapopan, says the Guardian.
CJNG's operations and threats
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The CJNG is known for its displays of "ultraviolence" and a sophisticated, military-style arsenal. Under El Mencho's leadership, the cartel pioneered the use of explosive-carrying drones and the installation of landmines.
The group has a history of aggressive attacks against the Mexican state. In 2015, they used a rocket launcher to shoot down an army helicopter, and in 2020, they attempted to assassinate the head of Mexico City's police force in the capital.
Security specialists consider the CJNG a national security threat. Eduardo Guerrero, a security specialist, said in 2021: "They have huge amounts of money, the latest generation weapons, military-style paramilitary groups and vehicles … and they represent a very severe challenge to the [Mexican] government – above all in small and mid-sized cities where a detachment of 50 cartel operatives can obviously defeat any local police force."
The Guardian described the group's rise as "'An atmosphere of terror': the bloody rise of Mexico's top cartel."
El Mencho's criminal career
El Mencho's involvement in crime dates back decades. In the 1990s, he served nearly three years in a US prison for heroin distribution before being released and returning to Mexico. Around 2007, he co-founded the CJNG following the death of drug lord Ignacio "Nacho Coronel" Villareal.
The CJNG initially worked under the Sinaloa cartel, but the two groups eventually split. An underworld account reported the conflict was sparked by "a Guadalajara narco spilling a glass of hibiscus tea over a rival during a gathering in the city's east," leading to years of territorial conflict.
Unlike other high-profile drug lords, such as Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, El Mencho maintained a low profile, and very few photographs of him exist. Despite this, he was a primary target for international law enforcement. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers the CJNG "to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, with a presence in all 50 US states."
El Mencho faced multiple US indictments, including one from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, charging him with "conspiracy and distribution of controlled substances (methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl) for the purpose of illegal importation into the US and use of firearms during and in connection with drug trafficking offences."
