'El Mencho': From California drug dealer to cartel kingpin - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
by Keegan HamiltonFebruary 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," founder of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has sent shockwaves through Mexico. Once a small-time drug dealer in California, El Mencho rose to become one of the most notorious cartel leaders, controlling vast territories and operations across Mexico and beyond. His killing in a shootout with Mexican authorities marked the end of his criminal empire but not without significant violence—reprisal attacks left 25 National Guard members dead, highways blocked, and airports grounded in several states.
El Mencho's rise from a migrant worker in San Francisco to cartel kingpin highlights the evolution of Mexico's drug cartels. Born into a modest family in Michoacán, he crossed the border illegally as a young man and faced legal trouble in the U.S., including multiple arrests for drug offenses. After being deported, he returned home, leveraging his criminal network to build the CJNG into a formidable force. The cartel's influence expanded globally, diversifying its operations to include human smuggling, extortion, fuel theft, and even fraud schemes targeting tourists.
The aftermath of El Mencho's death underscores the CJNG's paramilitary strength and resilience. Despite being designated as a terrorist group by the U.S., the cartel remains deeply entrenched in Mexico's underworld, with an estimated 20,000 members and associates. Its structure,
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Originally published on Los Angeles Times on 2/23/2026