Image: from MIBAWI (Michael Barthel) X @RealMiBaWi
By Open Chronicle Staff
Monday, February 23, 2026
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Mexico has been plunged into a state of high-alert warfare following the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The kingpin, better known as “El Mencho,” was killed Sunday during a high-stakes military operation, triggering a wave of retaliatory violence that has claimed dozens of lives.
Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch confirmed on Monday that at least 25 members of the Mexican National Guard and more than 30 suspected cartel gunmen have been killed in the ensuing clashes. The violence erupted across multiple states, with the most intense fighting centered in the cartel’s stronghold of Jalisco.
The Secretary of National Defense of Mexico confirms that El Mencho was eliminated thanks to one of his women.
They obtained the information after the woman arrived at some cabins in Tapalpa (Jalisco) and met with him.
pic.twitter.com/ErcuIGWyro— BAY AREA STATE OF MIND (@YayAreaNews) February 23, 2026
The fatal encounter occurred during a raid on Oseguera Cervantes’ residence in Jalisco. Military officials reported that the operation was backed by critical intelligence from the United States. According to Mexican Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla, a breakthrough in the case came from information provided by a romantic partner of the crime boss, allowing elite units to pinpoint his location.
🚨 BREAKING ALERT: CARTEL KINGPIN DEAD — NOW THE WAR BEGINS
A top cartel boss has been taken out — and Mexico has erupted into violence.
Roadblocks. Fires. Armed clashes.
The U.S. State Department has ordered Americans in parts of Mexico, including the… pic.twitter.com/F0ESVdb49a
— Jim Ferguson (@JimFergusonUK) February 23, 2026
The cartel’s response was swift and brutal. Throughout Sunday and into Monday, criminal cells paralyzed major transit routes, establishing over 250 roadblocks across 20 different states. In many instances, hijacked trucks and buses were set ablaze to obstruct military reinforcements.
In Jalisco alone, National Guard troops were targeted in six separate, coordinated ambushes following the news of their leader’s death. Beyond the combatants, the death toll includes a prison guard, an agent from the state prosecutor’s office, and at least one unidentified civilian woman.
“El Mencho” was considered one of the world’s most dangerous narco-terrorists, leading a criminal empire responsible for the massive distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States. His organization was infamous for its paramilitary-style tactics and brazen attacks on high-ranking government officials.
U.S. interests have been directly impacted by the fallout. The U.S. State Department issued an urgent shelter-in-place order for its personnel across Mexico on Monday, advising American citizens in affected regions to remain indoors and avoid travel. In the seaside resort of Puerto Vallarta, tourists described scenes of chaos as smoke from burning vehicles rose over the skyline, forcing hotels into lockdown.
President Claudia Sheinbaum urged the nation to remain calm during a morning press conference, stating that federal authorities are working to restore order. While officials noted that the hundreds of roadblocks have since been cleared, the atmosphere remains incredibly tense as the CJNG enters a likely internal power struggle to fill the vacuum left by its fallen leader.
As the smoke clears, the Mexican government faces the daunting task of containing the hydra-headed threat of cartel splinter groups, even as it celebrates the removal of one of its most elusive and violent adversaries.