Mexican military forces killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel on Sunday. Special forces conducted a raid in the mountain town of Tapalpa. Soldiers targeted Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes during the mission. This individual used the alias El Mencho. The operation involved the National Guard and the Mexican Air Force. Intelligence personnel from the Attorney General’s Office also participated.
Special forces moved into the area during the early hours. Cartel members opened fire on the troops immediately. Soldiers returned fire to defend their positions. The confrontation resulted in the death of four cartel operatives. Oseguera Cervantes sustained wounds during the exchange. Helicopters evacuated him for medical treatment. He died while travelling to Mexico City.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as ‘El Mencho’
Casualties And Arrests
The mission resulted in seven total deaths among cartel members. This figure includes the leader himself. Authorities arrested two other suspects at the scene. They seized armoured vehicles and rocket launchers. The troops also recovered high-powered rifles and tactical equipment. Three members of the armed forces sustained injuries. They receive medical care in the capital now.
Violence spread to other regions during the operation. One National Guard member died in Tapalpa. Six other members of the National Guard died in Zapopan. A jail guard lost his life during a riot in Puerto Vallarta. An agent from the state prosecutor’s office died in Guadalajara. These events occurred as the military secured the area.
Smoke rises in Puerto Vallarta
Cartel Retaliation Measures
Cartel gunmen responded with blockades across several states. They set fire to buses and cars on major roads. These actions blocked highways in Jalisco and Michoacán. Similar incidents occurred in Colima and Guanajuato. Arson attacks targeted eighteen bank branches. Gunmen also damaged sixty-nine convenience stores. Smoke billowed over the city of Puerto Vallarta.
The state of Jalisco activated a “code red” protocol. This signal indicates a state of emergency for residents. Governor Pablo Lemus suspended public transport services. He urged citizens to remain inside their homes. Schools in the state cancelled classes for Monday. Cartel members also blocked roads to the airport in Reynosa. This city sits on the border of Tamaulipas.
AFTERMATH OF KILLING IN MEXICO:
ULTIMA HORA: DESASTRE EN CIRCUNVALACIÓN, REALIZADO POR EL INTEGRANTE DE CJNG “LEX MENENDEZ”, QUIEN ABATIÓ A NEMESIO OSEGUERA CERVANTES, ALIAS “MENCHO”, QUIEN TRAICIONÓ A SU CARTEL, POR INDULTO INDEFINIDO pic.twitter.com/NdXgXhWspW
— cmm (@cmmmmzzz____) February 23, 2026
Aviation and Travel Impact
The violence caused chaos at several international airports. People ran through the terminal in Guadalajara. Travellers reported sounds of gunfire near the facility. Airlines cancelled flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Air Canada suspended all operations to the region. United Airlines and Delta followed this decision. Southwest and Alaska Airlines also halted their services.
The following airlines adjusted their schedules:
- Air Canada
- United Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Southwest Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
The US Embassy issued a security alert for citizens. It advised people to shelter in place. This warning covered Jalisco and Tamaulipas. It also included Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León. The Canadian embassy issued a similar travel advisory. Officials monitor the situation for further developments.
Mexico’s Guadalajara Airport erupts in chaos as passengers flee from gunfire. Gang violence spills into a popular tourist hub. What’s happening to global safety? pic.twitter.com/6YT2PFJ2x3
— Autumn🍨 (@Autumn_oor) February 23, 2026
International Cooperation
The United States provided intelligence for the operation. The US Embassy confirmed this bilateral cooperation on social media. The Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel assisted the Mexican military. This group works through the US Northern Command. A US official called the mission a success for Mexico. The US State Department previously offered a reward of $15 million.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau discussed the event. He called the death a great development for the world. Landau expressed sadness regarding the subsequent scenes of violence. The US government designated the group as a foreign terrorist organisation. This designation occurred in February of this year. The cartel distributes fentanyl and cocaine into the United States.
History Of The Organisation
Oseguera Cervantes founded the organisation around 2011. The group splintered from the Milenio Cartel. It grew into a criminal powerhouse within a decade. The cartel maintains a presence in all fifty US states. It rivals the Sinaloa Cartel in power and reach. The leader previously served time in a US prison. Authorities deported him to Mexico twice in the 1990s.
The group used aggressive tactics against security forces. They once used rocket launchers to down a military helicopter. The cartel also pioneered the use of explosives from drones. They installed land mines in rural areas of Mexico. Oseguera Cervantes coordinated global drug trafficking operations. His leadership turned the group into a leading criminal organisation.
Visual history of the CJNG
Government Statements
President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged the efforts of the forces. She posted a message on the platform X. Sheinbaum called for calm among the population. She noted that most of the territory remains normal. The President praised the Army and the National Guard. She also recognised the work of the Security Cabinet.
The Ministry of Defence released a formal statement. It detailed the timeline of the Tapalpa raid. The announcement contained the following text:
“During this operation, Mexican military personnel were attacked, and in defence of their physical integrity, they repelled the aggression. This resulted in four members of the ‘CJNG’ criminal group dying at the scene and three others being severely wounded, who lost their lives during their airlift to Mexico City.”
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Current Security Status
Security forces maintain a heavy presence in western Mexico. Troops patrol the streets of Guadalajara and Zapopan. They remove burnt vehicles from the main highways. Civil protection units extinguish fires at damaged businesses. Authorities monitor the borders of neighbouring states. They aim to prevent further retaliatory attacks.
The government continues to track remaining cartel leaders. They expect a power struggle within the organisation. Intelligence analysts predict a period of instability. The military remains on high alert for new blockades. Citizens receive updates through official social media channels. The situation in Jalisco stays under close observation.
