Violence erupts in Mexico after drug lord El Mencho killed

The death of the most-wanted Jalisco cartel chief sparks retaliatory violence in at least a dozen states in Mexico.

The Mexican army has killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, alias 'El Mencho,' the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in an operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco. His death triggered widespread chaos, with cartel members launching violent retaliations—including roadblocks and burning vehicles in 20 states—leaving at least 14 people dead.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued an emergency security alert for its citizens in five states in the country, following the unrest sparked by the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, 'El Mencho,' leader of the Jalisco Cartel — New Generation (CJNG), at the hands of the Mexican Army. The agency ordered Americans in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León to take immediate shelter in their homes or lodgings.

On February 22, 2026, Mexican military forces, aided by U.S. intelligence, conducted a successful raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco that led to the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as 'El Mencho,' leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). This operation marked a major escalation in Mexico’s efforts to combat cartel violence, following pressure from the Trump Administration.

The killing of Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel, also known as 'El Mencho', led to a wave of violence across the country, plunging some parts into a state of chaos. As the leader of one of Mexico’s most rapidly expanding criminal networks, the 59-year-old was notorious for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States, while orchestrating brazen attacks against government officials.

Mexican forces launched an operation in Tapalpa, a town in Jalisco, to capture Oseguera. Gun battles broke out between soldiers and cartel members. Four gang members were killed at the scene, while Oseguera and two others were seriously injured and later died while being flown to Mexico City for treatment. Three Mexican soldiers were also wounded during the operation. The strike is considered the biggest hit against cartels since the recapture of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman nearly a decade ago.

At least eight Chicago residents were caught in violent unrest in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Sunday, following the reported capture and death of cartel leader Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho' of the Jalisco cartel. Among them were Lakeview residents Jonathan Pizer and his husband Brad Lippitz, who were planning a whale-watching excursion with friends when their car was stopped due to the violence erupting in the area. Pizer and Lippitz, who own a condo in Puerto Vallarta, were separated during an explosion, and Lippitz sought refuge at an orphanage for eight hours as the streets remained dangerous. The violence is believed to be retaliation by the cartel and is part of a broader wave of attacks sweeping across western Mexico. Despite the chaos and danger, Pizer remarked during a video call that the situation could have been much worse. The story reflects the ongoing challenges and instability caused by drug cartel violence in Mexico and its impact on locals and foreign visitors alike.

Whole areas of western Mexico have been all but shut down after a surge in cartel violence sparked by a military raid that killed one of the world’s most wanted drug traffickers, known as “El Mencho”. Schools were closed in several Mexican states, and foreign governments warned their citizens to stay inside after the drug lord, whose real name is Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, was declared dead on Sunday. The 59-year-old cartel leader was killed during a shootout after the Mexican military attempted to capture him in a raid supported by intelligence from Washington. The US has been pushing its southern neighbour to take more aggressive action against groups trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. The operation immediately set off a wave of violence, with gunmen blocking major roads, torching cars and buses and fighting with government forces. There were attacks in 20 of Mexico’s 31 states, according to officials. La Jornada, a Mexican newspaper, reported that at least 26 people had been killed in the unrest, which was centred in the western state of Jalisco, including a pregnant woman reportedly caught in a shootout between troops and cartel fighters. The newspaper said the victims included 17 members of the state and federal security forces and eight members of El Mencho’s syndicate, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which has become Mexico’s most powerful and notorious criminal organisation. As the chaos spread, the Jalisco governor, Pablo Lemus Navarro, urged the state’s 8 million citizens to stay at home. Lemus said public transport services were being suspended. Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state and Mexico’s second-largest city, was almost completely shut down as fearful residents stayed home. Armed men were seen torching vehicles in the heart of Guadalajara, which is scheduled to be one of the 2026 World Cup host cities. Other video footage showed tourists on the beach as huge clouds of smoke rose into the skies above Puerto Vallarta, a popular resort city on the west coast known for its spectacular Pacific beaches. The cartel, which was founded about 16 years ago, has also been accused of attempting to assassinate Mexican government officials. The exact circumstances of El Mencho’s killing remained unclear. Mexico’s defence ministry said special forces troops from the army and national guard had launched an operation in Tapalpa, a town about 80 miles south-west of Guadalajara, to capture him. While doing so, however, “military personnel came under attack” and fought back. El Mencho was wounded in a shootout and died while being airlifted to Mexico City. Six of his accomplices were killed, and two alleged cartel members were arrested with weapons that included rocket launchers. Washington had offered a $15m (£11m) reward for his capture, and the White House confirmed that the US provided intelligence support to the operation. Senior US officials celebrated the killing, which follows months of pressure from Donald Trump over the influx of drugs and migrants across the 1,954-mile (3,145km) border between the two countries.