What to know about the killing of Mexico’s most powerful drug kingpin

The killing of Mexico’s most powerful drug kingpin represents a major show of force by the country’s military. Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho’, was the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. His death at the hands of security forces today comes as President Donald Trump continues to pressure the United States’ southern neighbour to do more to fight its drug-trafficking organisations. Oseguera, one of the most wanted fugitives in Mexico, was a founder of the New Generation cartel, which has grown to become one of the country’s most powerful and violent organisations, trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine into the US. A US defence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the operation was carried out by the Mexican military but included participation from a joint US-Mexico task force that “regularly works” with the Mexican military through US Northern Command, which oversees US operations in both countries. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum congratulated the country’s security forces but urged residents to “remain informed and calm” in the aftermath of the operation. Wave of violence The cartel leader’s killing immediately set off a wave of violence in areas controlled by the cartel, with reports of burning cars blocking roads. In Guadalajara, the capital of the western state of Jalisco and one of the host cities of the upcoming World Cup, businesses were shut down, sirens and helicopters could be heard in the city centre, and residents were warned to stay inside. Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro, in a statement on X, said federal forces had carried out an operation in Tapalpa, southwest of Guadalajara, and urged residents not to travel on roads because of clashes in the area. In the coastal resort city of Puerto Vallarta, videos showed grey smoke billowing above beachfront hotels. The US Embassy warned US citizens in Jalisco and Tamaulipas states, and parts of three other states, to shelter in place because of security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity. Videos circulating on social media showed people running through the Guadalajara Airport and hiding behind ticket counters. But the airport said in a statement that flights and operations are continuing as normal and that the chaos seen in videos was related to paranoia among passengers. A man extinguishes a burning truck set on fire by organised crime groups in response to an operation in Jalisco to arrest a high-priority security target, at one of the main avenues in Zapopan, state of Jalisco, Mexico, on February 22, 2026. Armed civilians blocked several roads in the state of Jalisco, in western Mexico, following an operation by federal forces in the town of Tapalpa, local authorities reported. Photo / Ulises Ruiz, AFP Military came under fire US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, in a post on X, described Oseguera as “one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins” and said his killing was a “great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world”. Mexican security officials planned the operation to detain Oseguera, and members of the military came under attack as they carried out the operation, according to a statement from the Defence Ministry. Security forces returned fire, killing four members of the cartel and seriously wounding three others who later died. One of them was Oseguera. Two other members of the cartel were detained, and weapons and armoured vehicles were seized, including rocket launchers with the capacity to attack aircraft and destroy armoured vehicles. The US helped provide information to support the operation, according to the statement. The joint unit that participated, known as Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel, was established last month with headquarters at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. It integrates intelligence personnel and law enforcement r...