Mexican security forces killed Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” during an operation in Jalisco on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, and authorities said they seized heavy weaponry that included rocket launchers and armored vehicles.
The raid provided new detail on CJNG firepower and the kinds of military-style equipment Mexico’s government says it faced while trying to capture the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Mexico’s Defense Department said troops came under fire during the mission and returned fire. In its account, four alleged cartel members were killed at the scene, three others were wounded and later died, including Oseguera, and two more people were detained. Authorities also reported three soldiers were injured.
U.S. officials said the United States provided intelligence support, and Reuters reported that the operation was planned and executed by Mexican forces, with no U.S. military personnel physically involved.
CJNG firepower in the Tapalpa operation
According to an Associated Press account of the Defense Department statement, the seized weapons included rocket launchers described as capable of shooting down aircraft and destroying armored vehicles. The same account said the operation involved the Mexican Air Force and special forces, and that Oseguera died after being transferred by air to Mexico City.
Reuters reported that Oseguera was injured during the raid and died in custody, and that his body was taken to Mexico City in a heavily guarded convoy. In the hours that followed, Reuters said cartel-linked violence included burning vehicles and highway blockades in more than a half-dozen states, with no civilian deaths reported as of Sunday. For its part, AP reported authorities cited at least 14 deaths, including National Guard troops, as the unrest spread.
The seizure of armored vehicles and rocket launchers matters for day-to-day security decisions because it changes what authorities can safely do with standard patrols and local police. Mexico has increasingly leaned on military units and specialized forces for high-value targets, especially in regions where criminal groups can mass gunmen, set up roadblocks, and sustain firefights long enough to complicate a withdrawal.
How CJNG built a reputation for military-grade weapons
CJNG’s willingness to confront federal forces is not new. Reuters has previously described a May 2015 incident in which cartel gunmen shot down a military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade as authorities closed in on Oseguera, buying time for him to escape.
That episode became a reference point in later reporting about CJNG’s tactics and capacity. AP has written that CJNG earned a reputation for brazen attacks on Mexican security forces and for innovating in violence, including the use of drones and improvised explosive devices, while expanding beyond drug trafficking into crimes such as extortion and fraud. A separate Reuters account of Oseguera’s career described CJNG as a diversified criminal enterprise that expanded into activities including fuel theft, human smuggling, and financial fraud.
In the United States, federal agencies have repeatedly identified CJNG as a major player in trafficking, including fentanyl. The DEA’s cartel overview describes CJNG and the Sinaloa cartel as principal drivers of the U.S. synthetic drug crisis and notes that the Trump administration designated them as foreign terrorist organizations in February 2025.
Shelter-in-place alerts and travel disruptions
As the security operation unfolded and roadblocks spread, official warnings quickly followed for travelers and U.S. citizens in parts of Mexico. Travel Weekly reported that a U.S. Embassy security alert urged Americans in multiple cities, including resort areas such as Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, to shelter in place due to “ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity.” The same alert said roadblocks had affected airline operations, and that taxis and ride shares were suspended in Puerto Vallarta.
AP reported that roadblocks and vehicle fires were used to disrupt movement after the killing, and that flights were canceled by multiple carriers as conditions deteriorated around parts of Jalisco. Reuters also reported that the retaliatory actions paralyzed some areas and forced businesses to shut, at least temporarily, while authorities tried to restore mobility and public order.
For travelers, the practical impact was uneven, varying by city and by the status of road access to airports rather than by whether airports were technically “closed.” That is why official advisories emphasized limiting movement, monitoring local reporting, and avoiding areas where law enforcement operations were underway.
