Cartel retaliation after the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes left 25 National Guard personnel dead, exposing the deadly power of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel across Mexico in coordinated attacks
Mexico is reeling from a weekend of unprecedented violence after the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) known as “El Mencho.” Federal authorities confirmed on Monday that at least 25 National Guard personnel were killed in a series of coordinated retaliatory attacks across the state of Jalisco.
The violence erupted shortly after a high-stakes military operation in the mountain town of Tapalpa on Sunday. According to the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), special forces tracked the kingpin to a wooded hideout by
monitoring a romantic partner. During the ensuing firefight, Oseguera Cervantes was fatally wounded; he died while being airlifted to Mexico City.
A wave of cartel retaliation
The death of the 59-year-old drug lord triggered an immediate “red code” across western Mexico. Cartel gunmen launched six separate ambushes against security forces and established more than 250 roadblocks across 20 states, using torched buses and tractor-trailers to paralyse major highways.
“What is important now is to guarantee the peace and security of the entire population,” said President Claudia Sheinbaum during a press briefing, attempting to calm a nation on edge.
#VantageOnFirstpost: Nemesio Oseguera, known as El Mencho, one of Mexico’s most powerful drug lords and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, has been killed in a military operation after reportedly being wounded in a clash with security forces. @palkisu tells you more. pic.twitter.com/GJnX2rozny
— Firstpost (@firstpost) February 23, 2026
Despite the government’s call for calm, the scale of the backlash was staggering. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch reported that, in addition to the 25 National Guard members, the unrest claimed the lives of a prison guard and a state prosecutor’s agent. Approximately 30 suspected cartel members were also killed in the clashes.
In response to the crisis, Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo announced the deployment of an additional 2,500 soldiers to Jalisco, bringing the total federal presence in the region to 10,000 troops.
The operation has significant geopolitical implications, occurring amid intense pressure from the US government to curb fentanyl trafficking. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the US provided “intelligence support” for the mission, though President Sheinbaum emphasized that no American boots were on the ground.
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US Ambassador Ron Johnson praised the sacrifice of the Mexican forces, stating, “Under the leadership of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bilateral cooperation has reached unprecedented levels.”
For now, schools remain closed in several states, and thousands of residents continue to shelter in place.
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