After El Mencho's death, what lies ahead for Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel?
France 24
by Mehdi BOUZOUINAFebruary 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The death of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, leader of Mexico's powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has sent shockwaves across the country. His killing by Mexican special forces in Tapalpa, Jalisco, on February 22, triggered an immediate and violent response from the CJNG, with hundreds of coordinated "narco-blockades" paralyzing major cities like Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. This swift reaction highlighted the cartel's operational strength even without its founder, who had been one of Mexico’s most-wanted criminals since 2014, with a $15 million bounty on his head.
El Mencho’s leadership was central to the CJNG’s rise as one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations. Under his command, the cartel expanded its influence across the country and into international drug trafficking networks, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl distribution into the United States. The group’s territorial control allowed it to deeply infiltrate local politics, judiciary systems, and security forces, ruling through fear and brute force.
With El Mencho gone, questions loom over the CJNG’s cohesion and future direction. Analysts note that the cartel operates through a decentralized "franchise model," with semi-autonomous regional factions managing drug production, trafficking, extortion, and fuel theft. This structure complicates predicting how the group will adapt post-El Mencho. Some experts warn of potential internal rivalries and territorial conflicts, as key lieutenants may compete for power, similar to the fragmentation seen in the Sinaloa cartel after the capture of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
The situation is highly volatile, with the
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Originally published on France 24 on 2/25/2026