Mexico Sends 10,000 Troops to Stop Cartel Violence After Drug Lord ‘El Mencho’ Is Killed

By andrew rose|America news world

MEXICO CITY — Mexico has rushed 10,000 troops to western states to stop retaliatory attacks by cartel gunmen after special forces killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) .

Members of Mexico’s National Operations Unit (UNO) stand guard outside FEMDO, a day after Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera was killed in Mexico City, on February 23, 2026 | Photo Credit: Reuters

The 59-year-old kingpin was wounded Sunday during a shootout with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa, located in Jalisco state. He died while being airlifted to Mexico City, the army confirmed .

His death triggered an immediate and bloody response from cartel members. Across 20 Mexican states, gunmen blocked highways with burning vehicles, torched businesses, and attacked security forces .

At least 25 National Guard members have been killed in the violence, according to Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch . The death toll also includes a prison guard, a state prosecutor’s office worker, and more than 30 suspected cartel members . One civilian was also reported killed .

In the chaos, armed groups attacked a prison in Jalisco, allowing at least 23 inmates to escape .

Tourists Told to Take Shelter

The resort city of Puerto Vallarta, a top destination for American tourists, became a flashpoint. Social media videos showed smoke rising from buildings as panicked visitors sheltered in their hotels .

The U.S. State Department issued an urgent alert, telling American citizens in several Mexican states to “shelter in place” . Canada and Britain followed with similar warnings, and Australia urged its citizens to “exercise a degree of caution” .

Dozens of flights from the U.S. and Canada to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara were canceled or diverted . WestJet and Air Canada suspended service, telling customers not to come to the airports .

In Guadalajara, Jalisco’s capital, streets emptied. Schools shut their doors, and public transportation ground to a halt . Long lines formed outside the few stores that remained open, as frightened residents stocked up on food .

“I couldn’t sleep,” said Maria de Jesus Gonzalez, a Guadalajara resident. “Now I’m a little more calm, but a little afraid, still” .

How They Found Him

Mexican officials revealed that tracking one of El Mencho’s girlfriends led them to his hideout . Military intelligence followed an associate who transported the woman to a ranch in Tapalpa. She left, but surveillance confirmed the drug lord stayed behind .

When special forces moved in Sunday morning, cartel gunmen opened fire. El Mencho and his inner circle fled into nearby forest, but troops pursued them on foot. A military helicopter was hit and forced to make an emergency landing .

During the firefight, El Mencho and two bodyguards were wounded. All three later died .

The White House confirmed that U.S. intelligence agencies provided critical information that helped locate the cartel leader . President Claudia Sheinbaum stressed that no American forces took part in the raid itself .

“We provided intelligence support,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, calling El Mencho a “top target” due to his role in trafficking fentanyl into the United States .

The CJNG was designated a terrorist organization by the Trump administration in February 2025 .

What Comes Next

El Mencho’s death leaves a dangerous power vacuum. His son, Ruben “El Menchito” Oseguera Gonzalez, was convicted by a U.S. federal court in Washington just last September, eliminating an obvious successor .

Experts warn that rival factions within the CJNG will likely battle for control.

“That opens the door to violent realignments within the organization,” said David Mora, an analyst at the Crisis Group .

Mexican media have identified at least four potential successors, including El Mencho’s stepson and regional commanders who control key drug corridors .

President Sheinbaum addressed the nation Monday, insisting that conditions were improving. “There is calm, there is government, there are armed forces and there is a lot of co-ordination,” she said .

Authorities reported that all 250 cartel roadblocks had been cleared by Monday morning . An additional 2,500 troops were deployed to reinforce the 7,500 already in Jalisco .

But for many Mexicans, fear remains.

“We’re a little more calm, but a little afraid, still,” Gonzalez said .