Top Cartel Leader ‘El Mencho’ Killed in Mexican Military Operation, US Official Says

The U.S. Embassy also warned Americans in multiple Mexican states to be alert.
Top Cartel Leader ‘El Mencho’ Killed in Mexican Military Operation, US Official Says
A burned vehicle used as barricade by organized crime members, following a series of arrests by federal forces, lies in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Feb. 22, 2026. Michelle Freyria/Reuters
Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
|Updated:
0:00

The notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was killed during a Mexican government operation on Sunday, according to the U.S. Department of State, in a move that decapitated one of the most powerful drug organizations in the country.

Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was killed by the Mexican military, said Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in a post on X, confirming anonymously sourced reports about the drug lord’s demise.

Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter who covers a range of topics, including politics, U.S., and health news. A father of two, Jack grew up in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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