Mexico fears extra violence after military kills cartel chief 'El Mencho' : NPR

Contents

Many worry extra violence A blow in opposition to a cartel might be a diplomatic coup David Mora, Mexico analyst for Worldwide Disaster Group, mentioned the seize and outburst of violence marks a degree of inflection in Sheinbaum’s push to crack down on cartels and relieve U.S. pressures. U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded Mexico do extra to struggle the smuggling of the often-deadly drug fentanyl, threatening to impose extra tariffs or take unilateral army motion if the nation doesn’t present outcomes. There have been early indicators that Mexico’s efforts had been nicely acquired by america. U.S. Amb. Ron Johnson acknowledged the success of the Mexican armed forces and their sacrifice in a press release late Sunday. He added that “beneath the management of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bilateral cooperation has reached unprecedented ranges.” However it could additionally pave the best way for extra violence as rival legal teams benefit from the blow dealt to the CJNG, Mora mentioned. “This may be a second wherein these different teams see that the cartel is weakened and wish to seize the chance for them to broaden management and to realize management over Cartel Jalisco in these states,” he mentioned. “Ever since President Sheinbaum has been in energy, the military has been far more confrontational, combative in opposition to legal teams in Mexico,” Mora mentioned. “That is signaling to the U.S. that if we hold cooperating, sharing intelligence, Mexico can do it, we do not want U.S. troops on Mexican soil.”‘El Mencho’ was a significant goal

A soldier stands guard by a charred automobile after it was set on hearth, in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, following the demise of the chief of the Jalisco New Era Cartel, Nemesio Oseguera, often called “El Mencho.”

Armando Solis/AP

cover caption

toggle caption

Armando Solis/AP

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — College was canceled in a number of Mexican states and native and international governments alike warned their residents to remain inside, as widespread violence erupted following the military’s killing of the highly effective chief of the Jalisco New Era Cartel.

A vehicle sits charred after being set on fire, on a road in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, after the death of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as"El Mencho."

Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, often called “El Mencho” was the boss of one of many fastest-growing legal networks in Mexico, infamous for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to america and staging brazen assaults in opposition to authorities officers who challenged it.

He was killed throughout a shoot-out in his house state of Jalisco because the Mexican army tried to seize him. Cartel members responded with violence throughout the nation, blocking roads and setting hearth to autos.

President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm and authorities introduced late Sunday they’d cleared a lot of the greater than 250 cartel roadblocks throughout 20 states. The White Home confirmed that the U.S. offered intelligence assist to the operation to seize the cartel chief and applauded Mexico’s military for taking down a person who was probably the most wished criminals in each nations.

Mexico hoped the demise of the world’s largest fentanyl traffickers would ease Trump administration strain to do extra in opposition to the cartels, however many remained hunkered down and on edge as they waited to see the highly effective cartel’s response.

Many worry extra violence

Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state and Mexico’s second-largest metropolis, was nearly utterly shut down on Sunday as fearful residents stayed house.

Passengers arriving to town’s worldwide airport Sunday evening had been instructed it was working with restricted personnel due to the burst of violence.

Jacinta Murcia, a 64-year-old vitamin merchandise vendor, was amongst these nervously strolling late Sunday evening by the airport, the place earlier within the day vacationers sprinted and ducked behind chairs fearing violence. Most flights into town had been suspended on Sunday.

Murcia anxiously scrolled by information tales on social media displaying the face of “El Mencho” and despatched messages to her kids, who had been monitoring her location as she tried to journey throughout town to her home after darkish.

“My plan at the moment leaving the airport is to see if there are any taxis, however I am fearful of the whole lot. That there are blockades, that there is a curfew, that one thing may occur,” she mentioned. “I am on their own.”

Authorities in Jalisco, Michoacan and Guanajuato reported no less than 14 different folks killed Sunday, together with seven Nationwide Guard troops.

Movies circulating on social media confirmed vacationers in Puerto Vallarta strolling on the seashore with smoke rising within the distance.

In one other a part of the airport a gaggle of aged Mexicans gathered, discussing tips on how to get house.

“We higher all go collectively,” one mentioned. “Go along with God.”

A blow in opposition to a cartel might be a diplomatic coup

‘El Mencho’ was a significant goal

Oseguera Cervantes, who was wounded within the operation to seize him Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, a couple of two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara, died whereas being flown to Mexico Metropolis, the Protection Division mentioned in a press release.

Through the operation, troops got here beneath hearth and killed 4 folks on the location. Three extra folks, together with Oseguera Cervantes, had been wounded and later died, the assertion mentioned.

White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned by way of X that the U.S. authorities offered intelligence assist for the operation. “‘El Mencho’ was a high goal for the Mexican and United States authorities as one of many high traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland,” she wrote. She recommended Mexico’s army for its work.

The U.S. State Division had provided a reward of as much as $15 million for data resulting in the arrest of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Era Cartel is without doubt one of the strongest and quickest rising legal organizations in Mexico and started working round 2009.

In February 2025, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a international terrorist group.

Sheinbaum has criticized the “kingpin” technique of earlier administrations that took out cartel leaders, solely to set off explosions of violence as cartels fractured. Whereas she has remained widespread in Mexico, safety is a persistent concern and since U.S. President Donald Trump took workplace a yr in the past, she has been beneath great strain to point out outcomes in opposition to drug trafficking.

The Jalisco cartel has been probably the most aggressive cartels in its assaults on the army — together with on helicopters — and is a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and putting in mines. In 2020, it carried out a spectacular assassination try with grenades and high-powered rifles within the coronary heart of Mexico Metropolis in opposition to the then head of the capital’s police power and now federal safety secretary.