The\u00a0U.S. Embassy issued a security alert<\/a> on Feb. 22 for various parts of Mexico, advising U.S. citizens\u00a0to “shelter in place until further notice” due to “ongoing security\u00a0operations and\u00a0related\u00a0road blockages and criminal activity” in more than a dozen states after the cartel leader was killed.<\/p>\n Plumes of smoke escaped Puerto Vallarta and buses and trailers were torched \u2014 the chaos leading to 75 roadblocks in around 20 states across Mexico, which troops began to clear late Sunday, according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.<\/p>\n Nemesio Oseguera, most commonly known as “El Mencho,” was killed in a raid by Mexican military special forces on Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico’s defense ministry said.<\/p>\n Here’s what to know about the capture of “El Mencho.”<\/p>\n What is the Jalisco New Generation Cartel?<\/p>\n The Jalisco New Generation Cartel<\/a> is one of Mexico\u2019s most powerful drug cartels with a presence in more than 40 countries and affiliates and associates in almost all 50 U.S. states, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.<\/p>\n The Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, or CJNG, as it is known in Spanish, was formed around 2010-2011 from the remnants of the Sinaloa cartel-affiliated Milenio cartel, the DEA reported.<\/p>\n The cartel\u2019s co-founder and leader, Nemesio\u00a0Rube\u0301n\u00a0Oseguera Cervantes, alias \u201cEl\u00a0Mencho,\u201d had been wanted in the United States on drug trafficking charges since 2017.<\/p>\n The CJNG is a key source of fentanyl into the U.S., along with cocaine and methamphetamine. CJNG is also involved in other criminal enterprises, including human smuggling, extortion, gasoline theft and real estate scams, such as timeshare fraud, for money laundering purposes, the DEA stated<\/p>\n Who killed El Mencho in Mexico?<\/p>\n “El Mencho” was killed in a Mexican military raid on Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco.<\/p>\n According to Mexico\u2019s defense ministry, the Mexican Air Force and the Special Immediate Reaction Force of the Mexican National Guard led the operation. Seven members of CJNG were killed at the scene or on their way to the hospital, the ministry said in a Feb. 22\u00a0statement<\/a>, including El Mencho.<\/p>\n Sheinbaum held a news conference on Feb. 23, which was accompanied by Mexican Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, who detailed how intelligence sharing with the United States led to the raid that targeted \u201cEl Mencho.\u201d<\/p>\n Mexico’s defense minister said roughly 80% of the weapons secured in the operation came from the United States.<\/p>\n The drug lord was born\u00a0Rube\u0301n Oseguera Cervantes<\/a>. He later adopted the name\u00a0Nemesio.<\/p>\n “El\u00a0Mencho” is short for Nemesio\u00a0and has\u00a0no other known meaning<\/a>.<\/p>\n Was the US involved in the capture of El Mencho?<\/p>\n Sheinbaum held a news conference on Feb. 23, which was attended by Mexican Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, who detailed how intelligence sharing with the United States led to the raid targeting \u201cEl Mencho.\u201d<\/p>\n Mexico’s defense minister said roughly 80% of the weapons secured in the operation came from the United States.<\/p>\n Where is El Mencho from?<\/p>\n The drug lord was born\u00a0Rube\u0301n Oseguera Cervantes<\/a> on July 17, 1966, in the small farming city of\u00a0Aguililla\u00a0in the western state of\u00a0Michoaca\u0301n.<\/p>\n El Paso Times reporters Daniel Borunda and Jeff Abbott contributed to this story. USA TODAY contributed to this story.<\/p>\n Natassia Paloma may be reached at\u00a0npaloma@gannett.com<\/a>, @NatassiaPaloma on X; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/88820829007-20260223-t-004026-z-584925973-rc-2-brjaowheb-rtrmadp-3-mexicoviolencemencho.JPG\")
![\"Mexican](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/88815778007-20260222-t-205910-z-969491302-rc-20-rja-9-sloe-rtrmadp-3-mexicoviolence.JPG\")
![\"Billionaire](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/5870ac56-90b3-414a-9e27-7fdf1e85492d-booking_photo_2.png\")