The Mexican military has reportedly killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during an operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco state, on Sunday, February 22.
Oseguera Cervantes, aged 59 and one of the world’s most wanted drug traffickers with a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head, was wounded in a clash with soldiers and died from his injuries while being transported by helicopter to Mexico City.
The operation also resulted in the deaths of four CJNG members at the scene, with two more dying en route to the capital, and three Mexican soldiers were injured.
The killing has triggered widespread retaliatory violence across Mexico, with the CJNG orchestrating over 250 roadblocks, vehicle burnings, and attacks in at least 20 states, including Jalisco, Tamaulipas, and Michoacán.
Tourist areas like Puerto Vallarta have turned chaotic, with reports of shootouts, cartel members firing from vehicles, and low-flying military helicopters patrolling.
Schools have been canceled in several states, airlines like Air Canada have suspended flights to affected areas, and governments including the U.S., India, and others have issued shelter-in-place advisories for their citizens.
U.S. officials have confirmed involvement, providing intelligence that aided the raid, drawing on experience from operations against groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
President Donald Trump praised the outcome on Truth Social, calling it a significant win against drug trafficking. However, some speculation on social media questions whether the body was actually Oseguera Cervantes or a body double, citing leaked images and his history of evasion tactics like plastic surgery.
This event marks a major blow to the CJNG, Mexico’s most powerful cartel responsible for much of the fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking to the U.S., but experts warn it could lead to further instability as rival groups or internal factions vie for control.
The situation remains fluid, with ongoing clashes reported as of early February 23.
