Chaos and violence in Mexico following the death of El Mencho
- Genocide Watch
- Feb 24
- 3 min read
Chaos and violence in Mexico following the death of El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel
February 23, 2026
By Agencia EFE
Mexico City (EFE). - Mexico is facing an escalation of violence, with fires and roadblocks in at least 16 of its 32 states, following the killing on Sunday of one of the most wanted drug lords, El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in an operation carried out with US intelligence, amid growing pressure from Washington to combat drug trafficking.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, 59, died while being transported by air to Mexico City by federal forces following an operation in the municipality of Tapalpa, 130 kilometers south of Guadalajara, capital of Jalisco (west), carried out with the support of information from the United States, according to the Mexican Defense Ministry.
The operation in that rural area led to an armed confrontation in which the military repelled an attack, resulting in the deaths of seven alleged CJNG members—including the leader himself—two arrests, and the seizure of high-powered weapons and armored vehicles, including rocket launchers, according to the Army.
In response to the action, so-called “narco-blockades” began in various parts of southern Jalisco, the birthplace of the CJNG, with vehicles set on fire and roads closed. The state government activated a “code red” and suspended public transportation in some areas and in-person classes on Monday.
The reaction spread to neighboring states such as Michoacán, Colima, and Nayarit (west), and later to Guanajuato, Aguascalientes (center), Tamaulipas, Baja California (north), Guerrero, and Quintana Roo (south), where roadblocks and fires targeting vehicles and businesses—including branches of the government's Banco del Bienestar—were reported.
Flight cancellations, school closures, roadblocks
In Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco), one of the country's main tourist destinations, flights were canceled, while across the state the governor suspended mass events, including a concert by American singer Kali Uchis in Guadalajara, one of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup.
So far, at least 16 states have reported blockades and unrest, including Puebla, Querétaro, the State of Mexico (center), Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas (south).
In addition to the seven hitmen killed in the operation in Jalisco, another four died in Michoacán, according to Governor Alfredo Ramírez. A further 22 people were arrested in Jalisco, Michoacán, and Guanajuato, according to official data.
Classes have been officially suspended in the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán, Colima, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Baja California, and in the Isthmus region of Oaxaca.
In the rest of the country, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) did not suspend classes, although it announced that it would not penalize students who were unable to attend due to “mobility problems” in some regions and faculties.
The alert spread to the Mexican capital with the transfer of El Mencho's body from the hangar of the Attorney General's Office (FGR) in the late afternoon, escorted by federal forces to the agency's forensic services in Mexico City, where identification tests and official expert reports will be carried out.
For her part, President Claudia Sheinbaum called on the population to remain “informed and calm” and acknowledged the armed forces for the operation that led to the killing of the CJNG leader.
US pressure against cartels
The Mexican Defense Ministry confirmed that the operation relied on “additional information” from the US, within the “framework of bilateral coordination and cooperation.”
El Mencho's defeat comes amid growing pressure from Washington against Mexican cartels, which it declared “terrorist organizations” last year. The United States accused him of leading a “reign of terror” in Mexico and destroying “countless lives” through fentanyl trafficking, offering up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
Under his leadership, the CJNG expanded its presence in Mexico and strengthened drug trafficking routes, including fentanyl to the United States, placing him among the most wanted drug traffickers in both countries.
This article has been adapted from the original in Spanish.
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