Major drug lord 'El Mencho' killed in Mexican military operation with US intelligence support

Major Mexican cause lord Nemesio Oseguera, known arsenic "El Mencho," was killed successful a subject cognition Sunday morning, the country’s Defense Department announced, marking 1 of Mexico’s astir important blows to organized transgression amid unit from President Donald Trump to intensify the crackdown connected cause cartels.

The announcement came arsenic authorities officials warned of clashes successful Jalisco authorities and wide transgression enactment crossed the country, prompting the U.S. Embassy successful Mexico to contented shelter-in-place advisories for aggregate states.

On Sunday, Mexican troops reportedly conducted operations successful Tapalpa, Jalisco, targeting Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, a erstwhile constabulary serviceman who became the elusive person of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), a large supplier of fentanyl to the United States.

Known arsenic "El Mencho," Oseguera Cervantes carried a $15 cardinal U.S. bounty and roseate to powerfulness pursuing the apprehension of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the erstwhile caput of the Sinaloa Cartel. Over the past 15 years, CJNG has grown from a section transgression radical into a planetary trafficking enactment operating retired of its stronghold successful Jalisco.

A MEXICAN DRUG KINGPIN YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF IS INFILTRATING SMALL-TOWN AMERICA

El Mencho was killed during a Mexican cognition successful Jalisco connected Feb. 22, 2026. (Drug Enforcement Administration)

"I’ve conscionable been informed that Mexican information forces person killed ‘El Mencho,’ 1 of the bloodiest and astir ruthless cause kingpins," U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said successful a station connected X. "This is simply a large improvement for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world. The bully guys are stronger than the atrocious guys."

The Mexican Defense Department said the cognition was conducted arsenic portion of bilateral coordination and practice with the U.S., whose authorities provided complementary quality that contributed to Oseguera Cervantes' capture.

During the capture, the CJNG ringleader became wounded and died en way to Mexico City, the Defense Department said.

Smoke rises into the entity implicit Puerto Vallarta during an cognition targeting cartel enactment connected Feb. 22, 2026. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

Four others were reportedly killed successful astatine the country of a shootout betwixt Mexican troops and transgression suspects successful Jalisco, with Oseguera Cervantes among 3 further individuals who were wounded and aboriginal died.

Authorities said they detained 2 different members of the transgression enactment and seized a scope of weaponry, including armored vehicles and "rocket launchers susceptible of downing craft and destroying armored vehicles."

Consequently, 3 members of the equipped forces became injured and are receiving treatment. 

TOURISTS IN MEXICAN SEASIDE CITY TOLD TO STAY ON RESORT AS GOVERNMENT WARNS OF ‘CLASHES’

Four others were reportedly killed successful a Jalisco shootout during the operation (Gabriel Trujillo/Reuters)

Widespread transgression enactment has been reported successful Jalisco, the cartel’s stronghold, arsenic good arsenic successful bluish regions that service arsenic cardinal borderline and transit corridors for the organization.

The Security Cabinet of the Government of Mexico noted that aggregate buildings were reportedly damaged during the "violent incidents," including astir 20 branches of Banco del Bienestar, a state-run banking institution. 

At slightest 21 highways stay blocked, with authorities reporting that 5 person already been reopened.

Photos showed galore roadblocks and burning vehicles, with acheronian fume rising into the sky, crossed the state – tactics officials accidental cartels often usage to dilatory oregon artifact subject operations. 

Photos and videos shared with Fox News Digital amusement thick, acheronian fume rising implicit the skyline of the tourer metropolis of Puerto Vallarta connected Mexico’s Pacific Coast successful Jalisco.

ALLEGED SINALOA CARTEL FENTANYL PRODUCER CHARGED IN NEWLY UNSEALED FEDERAL INDICTMENT

Widespread transgression enactment has been reported successful Jalisco, the cartel’s stronghold. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

"I’m watching the scenes of unit from Mexico with large sadness and concern. It’s not astonishing that the atrocious guys are responding with terror. But we indispensable ne'er suffer our nerve," Landau said.

The Mexican National Guard and Army units from cardinal Mexico and states neighboring Jalisco are presently mobilizing to reenforce security, the Defense Department said.

 "We stay successful Code Red. We reiterate the proposal to debar leaving your homes. The clashes are occurring successful respective national entities," Jalisco authorities Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro added. 

At slightest 21 highways stay barricaded. (Michelle Freyria/Reuters)

Travel warnings person been issued for Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara; Tamaulipas, including Reynosa and different municipalities; and parts of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León.

"Due to ongoing information operations and related roadworthy blockages and transgression activity, U.S. citizens successful the named locations should structure successful spot until further notice," the U.S. Embassy & Consulates successful Mexico said. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Complementary quality from U.S. authorities aided successful the operation. (Michelle Freyria/Reuters)

The cognition against Oseguera follows sustained unit from the Trump medication connected President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government, urging Mexico to measurement up its combat against cause trafficking amid threats of imaginable U.S. intervention.