![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/969b84ab95be34857bba19d9ae421a71.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nThe Mexican army has killed the leader of one of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartels as the country ramps up pressure on cartels after US intervention threats.<\/p>\n
Nemesio Rub\u00e9n Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, was wounded in an operation to capture him in Jalisco, a state about a two-hour drive from Guadalajara.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He died while being flown to Mexico City, the Defense Department said in a statement.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
El Mencho was wanted by the US government. (Reuters: State Department)<\/p>\n
An ex-police officer, El Mencho was the shadowy leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), an outfit named for the western state that is home to Mexico’s second-largest city, Guadalajara, and scheduled to host matches during this summer’s soccer World Cup.<\/p>\n
The state is the base of the cartel known for trafficking huge quantities of fentanyl and other drugs to the US.<\/p>\n
Over a relatively short period, the CJNG morphed into an international criminal enterprise rivalling former allies in the Sinaloa Cartel, the gang of captured kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, now in a US prison.<\/p>\n
The operation set off a wave of violence with torched cars and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states.<\/p>\n
During Sunday’s operation, troops came under fire and killed four people at the location. Three more people, including El Mencho, were wounded and later died, the statement said.<\/p>\n
Loading…<\/p>\n
Two others were arrested and armoured vehicles, rocket launchers and other arms were seized.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Three other members of the armed forces were wounded and are receiving medical treatment.<\/p>\n
The military operation against El Mencho follows a pressure campaign from the Trump administration on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government to ramp up its crackdown on drug trafficking, including US threats to intervene directly in Mexico.<\/p>\n
The US State Department had offered a reward of up to $US15 million ($21 million) for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho.<\/p>\n
![\"police](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/c4fa6435fb254fc99a72a00bd6d1e456.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Police officers secure an area where vehicles were set on fire by members of organised crime groups.\u00a0 (Reuters: Gilberto Gallo)<\/p>\n
A US defence official told Reuters that a new US military-led task force specialising in intelligence collection on drug cartels played a role in the raid.<\/p>\n
In February, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organisation.<\/p>\n
Ms Sheinbaum, like her predecessor, has criticised the “kingpin” strategy of previous administrations that took out cartel leaders only to trigger explosions of violence as cartels fractured.<\/p>\n
Roadblocks and burning vehicles![\"Four](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/173bde2d7da9589b201e4442847e2123.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Soldiers stop people from passing near a burning bus used as a roadblock by criminals. (Reuters: Gabriel Trujillo)<\/p>\n
The killing of the powerful drug lord set off several hours of burning vehicle roadblocks in Jalisco and other states.<\/p>\n
The cartels commonly use such tactics to block military operations.<\/p>\n
Jalisco cancelled school for Monday.<\/p>\n
Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, and people sprinting through the airport of the state’s capital in panic.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/90cabaf9083e7807ec7389a02c332f4c.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
A drone view shows smoke rising from a burning vehicle after the raid. (Reuters: @RaulFierroZ via X)<\/p>\n
On Sunday afternoon, Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to Puerto Vallarta “due to an ongoing security situation” and advised customers not to go to their airport.<\/p>\n
In Guadalajara, the state capital, burning vehicles blocked roads.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The US State Department warned US citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon to remain in safe places due to ongoing security operations.<\/p>\n
The drug lords behind Mexico’s deadly turf war<\/a><\/p>\n Find out about the drug cartels at the centre of a turf war that has claimed 100,000 lives in Mexico.<\/p>\n Canada’s embassy in Mexico warned its citizens in Puerto Vallarta to shelter in place and generally keep a low profile in Jalisco.<\/p>\n Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus told residents to stay at home and suspended public transportation.<\/p>\n Known as an aggressive cartel<\/p>\n The CJNG cartel has been one of the most aggressive cartels in its attacks on the military \u2014 including on helicopters \u2014 and is a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and installing mines.<\/p>\n In 2020, it carried out a spectacular assassination attempt with grenades and high-powered rifles in the heart of Mexico City against the then head of the capital’s police force and now federal security secretary.<\/p>\n Tactics like torching vehicles and blocking roads are commonly used by the cartels. (AP: Alejandra Leyva)<\/p>\n The DEA considers the cartel to be as powerful as the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico’s most infamous criminal groups, with a presence in all 50 US states.<\/p>\n It is one of the main suppliers of cocaine to the US market and, like the Sinaloa, earns billions from the production of fentanyl and methamphetamines.<\/p>\n Sinaloa, however, has been weakened by infighting after the loss of its leaders Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaqu\u00edn “El Chapo” Guzm\u00e1n, both in US custody<\/a>.<\/p>\n El Mencho had been significantly involved in drug trafficking activities since the 1990s.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/722e7f2377633daec89db1b5153bf4f9.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n