Mexican army kills leader of Jalisco Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho", 22 February 2026

[sds71]

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” in an operation Sunday, a federal official said.

The official, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said it happened during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco.

It followed several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states. Such tactics are commonly used by the cartels to block military operations.

Videos circulating social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the city of Puerto Vallarta, a major city in Jalisco, and sprinting through the airport of the state’s capital in panic.

The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is one of the most powerful and fasted growing criminal organizations in Mexico.

Mexican army kills leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel, official says

A Mexican federal official says the Mexican army has killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in a military operation.

apnews.com

 

[sds71]

Flight trackers show flights from the U.S. (including Denver) and Canada to Puerto Vallarta are being turned around amid unrest in the city following the killing of a cartel leader.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025632150247321789

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025638776609943926

 

[sds71]

Mexico: Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the following locations should shelter in place until further notice: Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025636042007605353

 

[MassGuy]

I've been waiting for this moment for years, and what we're seeing right now is totally predictable. This is the most powerful and violent cartel in Mexico, and Mencho makes a guy like El Chapo look like a choir boy. Imagine the absolute worst way to die. The CJNG cartel does that to people everyday, and films it.

 

[HmmMysterious]

The Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco on Sunday, a federal official said. It followed several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states; these tactics are commonly used by the cartels to block military operations.

Videos circulating social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the city of Puerto Vallarta, a major city in Jalisco, and sprinting through the airport of the state's capital in panic.

The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is one of the most powerful and fasted growing criminal organizations in Mexico. It has been one of the most aggressive cartels in its attacks on the military and a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and installing mines. In 2020, it carried out a major assassination attempt with grenades and high-powered rifles in Mexico City against the then head of the capital’s police force and now head of federal security.

The DEA considers this cartel to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico's most infamous criminal groups, with a presence in all 50 U.S states where it distributes tons of drugs. It is one of the main suppliers of cocaine to the US market and, like the Sinaloa cartel, earns billions from the production of fentanyl and methamphetamines.

Mexican army kills leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel, official says

 

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Mexico: Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the following locations should shelter in place until further notice: Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (including Reynosa and other municipalities), areas of Michoacan State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo Leon State. More info: mx.usembassy.gov/security-alert…

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025636042007605353

 

[HmmMysterious]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025651984997470616

 

[diggndeeperstill]

There was also a gunfire at Guadalajara International Airport, news outlet Guardia Nocturna reported.
One video posted online showed travelers fleeing the terminal.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025644048032100650

 

[diggndeeperstill]

Will this violent response move to other areas in Mexico?

 

[HmmMysterious]

Will this violent response move to other areas in Mexico?

This cartel operates in 10 other Mexican states, so I'm thinking sadly yes.

Jalisco New Generation Cartel - Wikipedia

 

[diggndeeperstill]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025647394881503641

US airlines are canceling today’s flights to PVR due to cartel related violence there. United, Southwest, Delta, Alaska and Air Canada all tell us they’ve canceled flights. At least one American flight turned around as things escalated on the ground in Mexico.

 

[diggndeeperstill]

I cannot even imagine the fear in being stuck there.

Bus departures canceled at Terminal del Norte (CDMX)

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025639976340255143

 

[diggndeeperstill]

It was not immediately clear what role, if any, U.S. authorities had in the operation to take down Oseguera. Sheinbaum has pledged “cooperation and coordination” with U.S. officials, but has rejected any direct U.S. role on the ground in anti-cartel operations.

Mexican army kills 'El Mencho,' Mexico's most-wanted drug kingpin

The Mexican army has killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in a military operation.

www.latimes.com