"El Mencho," Jalisco Cartel Leader, Killed in Mexico Military Operation

"El Mencho," Jalisco Cartel Leader, Killed in Mexico Military Operation

Updated: February 23, 2026 | CBS/AP

Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho” and one of the most wanted men in the Americas, was killed Sunday during a military operation in western Mexico. Oseguera Cervantes led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), considered one of the country’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations.

Authorities reported that six others were killed and several suspects arrested in the clashes that followed the operation. Armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and other heavy weapons were seized from cartel members. Three Mexican soldiers were wounded.

A Long Pursuit

Oseguera Cervantes had been on the U.S. most-wanted list for years, accused of trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States. At the time of his death, the U.S. State Department was offering a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.

Born in Mexico, he first entered the U.S. illegally in the 1980s, living in California before being arrested on drug charges and deported. He returned illegally, was arrested again in 1992, and after serving three years in prison, was deported a second time. Back in Mexico, he rose through the ranks of organized crime, eventually founding CJNG in 2011 after breaking away from the Milenio Cartel.

CJNG’s Violent Legacy

Under Oseguera Cervantes, CJNG expanded rapidly, establishing dominance through extreme violence and military-grade weaponry. The cartel has been linked to high-profile attacks, including the 2020 attempted assassination of Mexico City’s police chief Omar García Harfuch and the 2015 downing of a Mexican military helicopter with an RPG.

CJNG has also been accused of kidnapping, torture, and forced recruitment, often luring victims through fake job advertisements. In recent years, mass graves and evidence of brutal training camps have been uncovered.

Family Ties and U.S. Cases

His son, Rubén Oseguera — known as “El Menchito” — was sentenced to life in prison in the U.S. in 2025 for drug and weapons charges. His wife, arrested in Mexico, was released in 2025 after serving time.

Oseguera Cervantes himself faced multiple U.S. indictments, including charges in 2022 for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, as well as weapons-related offenses.

Global Impact

Former DEA officials described El Mencho as one of the most powerful drug lords in history, rivaling Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. His death marks a significant moment in Mexico’s ongoing battle against organized crime, though CJNG’s vast network and resources suggest the cartel will remain a major force despite the loss of its leader.