Recently, a major military operation took place on 22 February 2026 that resulted in the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes. He was popularly known as “El Mencho” and as a Mexican drug trafficker. Also, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (abbreviated as CJNG). His negative side revealed that he was one of the most wanted drug lords in Mexico and the United States, the latter offering a reward of $15 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction. Now, his sudden death has raised various questions related to the circumstances and the cause of his demise. We have compiled all the available details and written them in this article.
How Did El Mencho Die?
The Mexican Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) and President Claudia Sheinbaum officially confirmed the death of El Mencho. As per the reports, an operation began by the military where Mexican special forces, assisted by “complementary intelligence” from the United States, raided a location in the mountain town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, on Sunday morning, 22 February 2026. In this military operation, a brutal gunfight broke out between soldiers and cartel gunmen, and Oseguera Cervantes was shot and critically wounded. After getting wound injuries, he was being airlifted to Mexico City for medical attention, but amid all this, he died from gunshot wounds. Further, a total of six cartel members were killed alongside “El Mencho,” and several National Guard members died in related retaliatory clashes.
In short, he was 59 years old at the time of passing and died due to gunshot wounds on 22 February by the Mexican security forces at the mountain town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico. Scroll down to learn more…
Who Was Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes?
His full name was Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, but he was known as El Mencho. Born on July 17, 1966, in Aguililla, Michoacán, Mexico. He was a former police officer and sixth-grade dropout who became one of the world’s most feared drug leaders after “El Chapo” was captured. In 2009, he founded CJNG, and the cartel became a global empire trafficking fentanyl, meth, and cocaine under his leadership. He was also known for his cruel behavior, which makes him a criminal.
He was Mexico’s most wanted cartel boss and head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. If we talk about his personal life, he married Rosalinda González Valencia in 1996, and his wife was a prominent figure in the “Cuinis” clan (the financial arm of the cartel) and was recently released from prison in February 2025. Reportedly, the couple separated in 2018 but remain legally married. The couple has three children: Rubén Oseguera González (“El Menchito,” currently in US custody), Jessica Johanna, and Laisha.
What Happened in Mexico Violence?
