El Mencho’s death triggers nationwide violence in Mexico, 25 guards killed
At least 25 members of Mexico’s National Guard have been killed in a wave of violence that erupted following yesterday’s shooting of alleged drug kingpin Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as El Mencho.
The unrest has spread across at least 20 states, with the western state of Jalisco at the epicentre, after the feared leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) died in custody yesterday, Sunday, February 22, 2026 shortly after being captured by Mexican special forces.
Mexico’s security minister said the violence has claimed dozens of lives, including members of the National Guard, a prison guard, a state prosecutor’s office official and at least 30 suspected cartel operatives.
The surge in attacks marks one of the deadliest backlashes by organised crime groups in recent years.
Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said the government has deployed 2,500 additional soldiers to western Mexico to reinforce security and restore order.
Armoured vehicles and air support have also been mobilised in a show of force aimed at containing the escalating violence.
According to the defence ministry, El Mencho was captured on Sunday in the town of Tapalpa after security forces tracked down a romantic partner he was reportedly meeting.
A fierce firefight broke out between his bodyguards and military commandos during the operation. At least six of his security guards were killed, while three Mexican soldiers were injured.
The cartel leader was seriously wounded during the exchange and died while being transported from Tapalpa to Mexico City, authorities said.
News of his death triggered coordinated retaliatory attacks by suspected CJNG members in towns and cities where the cartel maintains a strong presence.
In several areas, gunmen blocked highways by scattering spikes and nails across roads, while in others they hijacked buses and commercial vehicles before setting them ablaze in the middle of major thoroughfares.
Dozens of banks and local businesses were also torched, leaving significant property damage. In many towns, deserted streets reflected widespread fear as authorities urged residents to remain indoors.
Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said the government was working to stabilise affected regions and dismantle remaining cartel cells responsible for the attacks.
President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the military operation that led to El Mencho’s capture, describing it as a decisive blow against organised crime. She said her administration’s priority is to guarantee peace and security nationwide.
“There is calm, there is government, there are armed forces and there is a lot of co-ordination,” Sheinbaum said, adding that major roadblocks had been cleared by Monday morning.
The United States had previously offered a $15 million reward for information leading to El Mencho’s capture. Mexico’s defence ministry confirmed that “complementary information” provided by US authorities assisted in locating the cartel leader, but stressed that no US forces were involved in the operation or his killing.
The CJNG is widely regarded as one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organisations, with extensive involvement in drug trafficking, extortion and weapons smuggling.
El Mencho had long been considered Mexico’s most wanted man, and his death is expected to trigger a fierce power struggle within the cartel, raising fears of further instability in the coming weeks.
