MEXICO CITY, Feb. 23, 2026 — The Mexican army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” in a raid Sunday, setting off retaliatory violence and roadblocks across the country, according to Reuters and the Associated Press.
The defense ministry said he was wounded in Tapalpa, Jalisco, and died while being flown to Mexico City, while clashes left additional deaths and injuries among security forces, the AP reported, with the BBC noting injuries among soldiers during the operation.
Violence spreads across states
Authorities reported burning vehicles and blockades across more than 20 states and canceled classes in several areas as residents sheltered in place, the AP said, echoed in accounts from NPR.
In the tourist hub of Puerto Vallarta, smoke rose over the bay and airlines suspended flights as local officials urged people to stay home, Reuters reported, with similar disruptions described by the BBC.
US-Mexico cooperation and pressure
The White House said the United States provided intelligence support for the operation and praised Mexico’s military, while U.S. officials have offered a $15 million reward for information leading to El Mencho’s capture, according to Reuters, the AP, and NPR.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has faced pressure from Washington to curb fentanyl trafficking while emphasizing Mexico’s sovereignty, a tension underscored by U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for tougher action, Reuters reported and NPR said.
Cartel footprint and what comes next
Under El Mencho, the CJNG expanded into one of Mexico’s most powerful cartels, trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine and using drones and heavy weapons in attacks, according to Reuters, the AP, and Al Jazeera.
Analysts warned the takedown could trigger internal fractures and more violence even as Sheinbaum urged calm and authorities began clearing roadblocks, Reuters said and Al Jazeera reported.
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