Who was El Mencho? What drug lord’s killing means for Mexico
Al Jazeera
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," a powerful drug lord and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, has sparked widespread violence in Mexico. In a US-backed operation, Mexican forces killed El Mencho during a raid in Talpalpa, Jalisco. His death has led to clashes across 20 states, with gunmen setting fires, erecting roadblocks, and engaging in shootouts with authorities. The killing of El Mencho, aged 59, marks a significant blow to the cartel's operations, which have long terrorized Mexico and influenced drug trafficking into the United States.
El Mencho rose through the ranks of Mexico’s criminal underworld in the 1990s, serving time in the US for heroin trafficking before returning to Mexico. Known for his brutal methods, he used threats like sending a pig's head to an attorney and boasting about violent reprisals on calls. He invested heavily in submarines to transport drugs from South America to the US, earning notoriety as one of Washington’s most wanted fugitives with a $15 million reward on his head.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, founded by El Mencho in 2009, has become one of Mexico’s most feared groups. It operates in 21 states and is implicated in the trafficking of fentanyl into the US, rivaling the Sinaloa Cartel in influence. The cartel’s assaults on Mexican security forces have included downing a military helicopter and attempting to assassinate a former police chief.
El Mencho’s death comes after months of increased US intelligence sharing with Mexico, part of efforts to combat organized crime. While his killing may weaken the Jalisco cartel, it has also triggered retaliatory violence, raising concerns about further instability in Mexico.
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/23/2026