Cartel War Erupts Across Mexico After Military Kills CJNG Kingpin El Mencho In Major Raid

(RightwingJournal.com) – Mexico descended into open warfare after the Mexican army killed one of the world’s most powerful drug lords, triggering multi-state cartel retaliation that left security forces dead, highways paralyzed, and U.S. citizens scrambling to escape the chaos.

Story Snapshot

Mexican military killed CJNG cartel leader “El Mencho” in Jalisco operation, sparking immediate violent retaliation across eight states
Cartel forces erected roadblocks, burned vehicles, and engaged in deadly clashes killing National Guard soldiers, a jail guard, and a prosecutor’s agent
Violence disrupted major cities including Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, prompting U.S. travel warnings and flight cancellations
Cartels now deploy military-grade weapons including drones and IEDs, controlling approximately one-third of Mexican territory
Power vacuum threatens to intensify ongoing Sinaloa Cartel civil war and expand CJNG fragmentation into prolonged insurgency-style conflict

Military Operation Eliminates Cartel Kingpin

Mexican army forces killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” during a targeted raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco on February 22, 2026. The CJNG leader suffered critical wounds during the firefight and died while being airlifted to Mexico City for medical treatment. Six cartel members died alongside him in the operation. El Mencho had commanded one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations, overseeing territorial expansion and drug trafficking operations across multiple states. His death marks a significant government victory in the ongoing battle against cartel violence that has claimed over 30,000 lives annually since 2018.

Immediate Cartel Retaliation Spreads Across Eight States

CJNG forces launched coordinated attacks immediately following their leader’s death, burning vehicles and erecting roadblocks on major highways throughout Jalisco, Michoacán, and Guanajuato. The violent response disrupted critical infrastructure in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, paralyzing commerce and travel in two of Mexico’s largest metropolitan areas. National Guard soldiers and regular military personnel fell in clashes with cartel gunmen wielding military-grade weapons. A jail riot claimed a guard’s life, while cartel forces assassinated an agent from the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office. President Claudia Sheinbaum deployed reinforcements to contain the violence, though disruptions persisted across affected regions days after the initial operation.

Cartels Deploy Military-Grade Weaponry in Territorial Control

Mexican drug cartels have evolved from trafficking organizations into insurgent-style forces equipped with drones, improvised explosive devices, and armored vehicles. The Sinaloa Cartel factions deployed drone strikes during their internal civil war between Los Chapitos and Mayito Flaco factions throughout late 2025. CJNG forces utilized coordinated military tactics including ambushes against government convoys and strategic roadblock placements. Cartels now control approximately one-third of Mexican territory, shifting their operations from drug smuggling to territorial domination. This militarization represents a dangerous escalation that challenges Mexico’s sovereignty and threatens regional stability, particularly along the U.S.-Mexico border where violence increasingly spills across international boundaries.

Power Vacuum Creates Dangerous Instability for Americans

The United States issued urgent travel warnings for major Mexican cities on February 22, 2026, as airlines canceled flights between American and Mexican destinations. El Mencho’s death creates a dangerous power vacuum that analysts predict will intensify fragmentation within CJNG and fuel the ongoing Sinaloa Cartel civil war. The Chapitos faction had formed alliances with CJNG elements, complicating territorial disputes across Sinaloa, Nayarit, and Durango. Unlike previous cartel leader eliminations, this operation triggered unprecedented multi-state urban disruptions affecting American tourists and business travelers. The situation exposes the failure of current Mexican government strategies to contain cartel violence and highlights risks to American citizens visiting or conducting business in Mexico.

Border Security Concerns Mount Under Cartel Expansion

Cartel control of Mexican territory directly threatens American national security as criminal organizations operate with impunity across vast regions. The violence that erupted following El Mencho’s death demonstrates how quickly instability can spread and impact U.S. citizens abroad. With cartels deploying military weaponry and controlling strategic corridors, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and cross-border crime continue unabated. President Trump’s administration now faces mounting pressure to address the deteriorating security situation that previous policies failed to contain. The Mexican government’s inability to maintain order in key states reinforces concerns about border integrity and the need for decisive American action to protect citizens from cartel violence that increasingly reaches into U.S. communities.