Politics: The death of “El Mencho” reshapes the Mexican security landscape

MEXICO - Report 02 Mar 2026 by Guillermo Valdés and Francisco González

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, the Mexican Army carried out a well-planned operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco (130 km from Guadalajara), with support from US intelligence (JITF-CC), to capture Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The kingpin was wounded in the operation and died during helicopter transfer to a hospital.

The operation was successful but was marred by two main factors. The first was the violent CJNG reaction. Within hours, the cartel launched coordinated attacks to demonstrate its power. These included narco-blockades, vehicle burnings and attacks on convenience stores and Banco de Bienestar branches. The initial official toll: 25 security personnel killed, eight CJNG members fatally shot, and one civilian dead. The second was the poor government communication regarding the operation. The government issued only a brief statement from Sedena about the operational success, without informing the public about the nationwide violence. The silence fostered fear, rumors, fake videos, and speculation on social media.

The CJNG, which emerged in 2011 following the fragmentation of the Sinaloa Cartel, has been characterized by extreme violence, professional paramilitaries, high-tech weaponry, and diversification of its criminal activities: drug trafficking (fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine), migrant/arms smuggling, fuel theft, extortion and money laundering through a sophisticated network of businesses. The operation in February marked a shift in the security policy of the Morena party governments, distancing itself from the "hugs not bullets" strategy implemented by AMLO, and strengthening bilateral cooperation with the US. However, violence is very likely to increase in the coming months due to internal cartel realignments and territorial disputes with other cartels, requiring a comprehensive strategy (military, financial, etc.) from the government to dismantle the CJNG.

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