Mexican Authorities Traced Drug Lord ‘El Mencho’ Through Visit From Romantic Partner

Investigators tracked a confidante of one of the drug lord’s romantic partners, who accompanied the woman to a cabin for a meeting with him.

Security personnel stand outside the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime, where the body of "El Mencho" is apparently being held by authorities in Jalisco state, Mexico, on Feb. 22, 2026. Luis Cortes/Reuters

Mexican authorities said on Feb. 23 that they were able to trace most-wanted cartel leader “El Mencho” after following his romantic partner to a secret rendezvous in the state of Jalisco.

El Mencho, whose real name is Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, also known as CJNG, one of the most powerful drug organizations in the country. In 2024, the U.S. State Department offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest.

Mexican Defense Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla told reporters that federal forces launched an operation on Feb. 22 to capture El Mencho, with assistance from U.S. intelligence.

Trevilla said military investigators located El Mencho by tracking a confidante of one of his romantic partners, who accompanied the woman to a cabin in Tapalpa, Jalisco, on Feb. 20 for a meeting with the drug lord.

His precise location was confirmed using additional information provided by U.S. intelligence, the military official said. El Mencho stayed behind with his security detail after his partner left the next day.

The Mexican army and the National Guard then formed a ground cordon, with six helicopters and special forces positioned in bordering states. They launched raids on Feb. 22 after confirming his presence.

Trevilla said El Mencho attempted to flee with two bodyguards during an exchange between an armed group and military forces but was later tracked to a wooded area, where the confrontation escalated and left him and his bodyguards critically injured.

During the confrontation, a military helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing after being hit by gunfire, Trevilla said. Three soldiers were injured, and two individuals were apprehended at the scene.

Trevilla said El Mencho and his bodyguards were later transported by helicopter to a hospital in Mexico City but did not survive their injuries. Their bodies were flown to Mexico City, he added.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Feb. 22 that the United States provided intelligence support for the operation to capture El Mencho and applauded Mexico’s army for its success.

Leavitt said President Donald Trump is determined to ensure narco-terrorists who smuggle illegal drugs into the United States “face the wrath of justice they have long deserved.”

El Mencho’s death triggered violence across several states in Mexico, as alleged cartel members attacked public spaces and burned vehicles on highways in retaliation for the federal operation, prompting the deployment of 2,000 military personnel to Jalisco.

Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said that at least 25 National Guard members and 30 suspected criminals were killed in the violence that erupted in Jalisco.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a Feb. 22 alert on social media urging U.S. citizens to shelter in place because of “ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity” in parts of the country.

Citizens were urged to avoid areas with law enforcement activity, monitor media for updates, follow the directions of local authorities, and keep their family and friends updated about their location and well-being.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.