A soldier stands guard by a charred vehicle after it was set on fire, in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, after the death of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” (AP Photo)
Mexico Violence News Today LIVE Updates: Mexico’s most wanted drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, has been killed during a military operation in Jalisco on Sunday, the Mexican defence ministry said. The 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) died after being seriously injured in clashes between his supporters and the army. The United States had offered a $15m reward for information leading to his capture.
Who was El Mencho: Oseguera Cervantes was a former police officer who went on to head one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal groups. The CJNG, formed in Jalisco around 2010, expanded across much of the country and became a major supplier of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl to the United States. US authorities, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, considered the group a key rival to the Sinaloa Cartel. The cartel has been linked to attacks on security forces and public officials.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum urged people to remain calm, saying that “in most parts of the country, activities are proceeding normally”.
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Flight disruption and unrest: After the operation, suspected cartel members set vehicles on fire and set up roadblocks in several states. The US Department of State issued a shelter-in-place warning for US citizens in Jalisco and other affected states.
Flights were disrupted as unrest spread. United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada cancelled flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Guadalajara was diverted to Austin, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.
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