--- title: "CJNG Leader \"El Mencho\" Killed in Jalisco, Leading to Retaliatory Violence Across Mexico" description: U.S. strike risk on Iran rises amid military buildup and stalled talks. Global Guardian advises on travel risks. Learn more about business impacts. image: https://www.globalguardian.com/hubfs/GG_Intel_Mexico_Feature_2.png --- [+1 (703) 566-9463](tel:+17035669463) | [Emergency Support](https://www.globalguardian.com//emergency-support) [![GG Logo Main White](https://www.globalguardian.com/hs-fs/hubfs/GlobalGuardian_Oct2019/Logos/GG%20Logo%20Main%20White.png?width=208&height=45&name=GG%20Logo%20Main%20White.png "GG Logo Main White")](https://globalguardian.com) - [Corporate ](https://www.globalguardian.com/corporate-solutions) - [Personal ](https://www.globalguardian.com/personal-solutions) - [Government](https://www.globalguardian.com/government-solutions) - [Outcomes](https://www.globalguardian.com/case-studies) - [ Travel Security ](https://www.globalguardian.com/case-studies?topic=Traveler%20Security) - [ Executive Protection ](https://www.globalguardian.com/case-studies?topic=Executive%20Protection%20and%20Transportation) - [ Emergency Response ](https://www.globalguardian.com/case-studies?topic=Emergency%20Response) - [ Medical Assistance ](https://www.globalguardian.com/case-studies?topic=Medical%20Assistance) - [ Event Security ](https://www.globalguardian.com/case-studies?topic=Event%20Security) - [ Video Surveillance ](https://www.globalguardian.com/case-studies?topic=Asset%20Security) - Learn - [ Global Digest ](https://www.globalguardian.com/global-digest) - [ Newsroom ](https://www.globalguardian.com/newsroom) - [ Webinars ](https://www.globalguardian.com/media-room#t4) - [ Global Guardian Academy ](https://academy.globalguardian.com/) - [ FAQ ](https://www.globalguardian.com/faq) - Company - [ About Global Guardian ](https://www.globalguardian.com/about-global-guardian) - [ Executive Leadership ](https://www.globalguardian.com/executive-leadership) - [ Menu of Services ](https://www.globalguardian.com/service-menu) - [ Global Coverage ](https://www.globalguardian.com/global-coverage) - [ Contact Us ](https://www.globalguardian.com/contact) - [ Careers ](https://www.globalguardian.com/careers) [![Request Security](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2233164/aecafd49-7abe-4a80-95c2-e37dbbacda44.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2233164/aecafd49-7abe-4a80-95c2-e37dbbacda44) # CJNG Leader "El Mencho" Killed in Jalisco, Leading to Retaliatory Violence Across Mexico February 23, 2026 | [Security Alerts](https://www.globalguardian.com/newsroom/topic/security-alerts) [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalguardian.com%2Fnewsroom%2Fmexico-conflict-situation-update-feb-2026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/linkedin-24x24.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalguardian.com%2Fnewsroom%2Fmexico-conflict-situation-update-feb-2026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalguardian.com%2Fnewsroom%2Fmexico-conflict-situation-update-feb-2026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalguardian.com%2Fnewsroom%2Fmexico-conflict-situation-update-feb-2026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=CJNG%20Leader%20%22El%20Mencho%22%20Killed%20in%20Jalisco%2C%20Leading%20to%20Retaliatory%20Violence%20Across%20Mexico) [![Share on Pinterest](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/pinterest-24x24.png)](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalguardian.com%2Fnewsroom%2Fmexico-conflict-situation-update-feb-2026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dpinterest&media=) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalguardian.com%2Fnewsroom%2Fmexico-conflict-situation-update-feb-2026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalguardian.com%2Fnewsroom%2Fmexico-conflict-situation-update-feb-2026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) On 22 February 2026, Mexican military and law enforcement agents undertook an operation in **Tapalpa**, **Jalisco **to capture (or kill) Nemesio "**El Mencho**" Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (**CJNG**), and the most wanted man in both Mexico and the U.S. He was the head of the most powerful criminal organization in Mexico. El Mencho, along with several other key leaders within the CJNG, were killed or captured in the operation, which was supported by **U.S. intelligence.**  Following the operation were **widespread shootouts **and **cartel blockades **across multiple states in Mexico, starting in Jalisco and radiating outward as the news spread. Criminal actors **hijacked **and **burned **vehicles, **attacked **gas stations and small businesses, **deployed tire spikes **on roadways, and engaged security forces in multiple armed confrontations. Multiple **airlines **cancelled flights into Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Mazatlán out of an abundance of caution. While the violence began in Jalisco state, there were over** 250** confirmed blockades in **22 states. **Authorities indicated nearly all roadblocks were cleared as of early morning hours on 23 February.  ![i9sC4-states-with-cjng-retaliatory-violence](https://www.globalguardian.com/hs-fs/hubfs/i9sC4-states-with-cjng-retaliatory-violence.png?width=700&height=552&name=i9sC4-states-with-cjng-retaliatory-violence.png) Municipal governments and schools in multiple states were **closed **on Monday, 23 February, amid ongoing concerns of violence. The** U.S. Embassy in Mexico City** issued multiple alerts to U.S. citizens to shelter-in-place. The [latest alert](https://mx.usembassy.gov/security-alert-update-3-ongoing-security-operations-u-s-mission-mexico-february-22-2026/) establishes **remote-work** and** shelter-in-place **orders for U.S. government personnel for 23 February in Guadalajara (Jalisco), Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco/Nayarit), Ciudad Guzman (Jalisco), Cancun (Quintana Roo), Playa del Carmen (Quintana Roo), Cozumel (Quintana Roo), Reynosa (Tamaulipas state), and Tijuana (Baja California).  Large-scale disruptions are a **common retaliatory tactic **used by criminal groups after high-level arrests or leadership targeting. The intent is to create **operational chaos**, slow security force deployments, and **pressure authorities **regarding detained figures. A similarly disruptive but more localized version of this happened in **Culiacan, Sinaloa **in 2019 during an attempted arrest of **Ovidio Guzman**, one of the sons of El Chapo. He was released from custody after more than 700 cartel gunmen laid siege to the jail where he was being held.  ## Ongoing recommendations in violence-impacted areas:  - **Shelter in place. Do not leave your home or hotel.** - **Do not attempt to travel by land.** - **Monitor local news and government notices.** - **Utilize Global Guardian for secure transportation.** ## Short-Term outlook  The **CJNG **is the **dominant criminal organization **in **Mexico**, with influence in most states. The death of their leader will likely cause a **violent internal power struggle **across their territory in the coming **days **and **weeks**. This is a familiar pattern within organized crime groups—the death or capture of a leader leads to a power vacuum, often **fracturing **the organization along competing lines or familial loyalties as is ongoing with the **Sinaloa Federation **split.   ## Long-Term Outlook  - This operation is likely the** first of many** across Mexico **targeting leadership **of the cartels designated as **narco-terrorist** groups by the Trump administration. It shows the U.S. has the intelligence to pinpoint cartel leaders, either through human sources or advanced technology. - It serves as a **warning **to other organized crime groups that Mexico, at least on a federal level, will not be dissuaded from carrying out such operations and that it has the support of the U.S. government and the newly established U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force–Counter Cartel, or **JIATF–CC**, which provided a "targeting package" on El Mencho to the Mexican military. - The Mexican government remains **under pressure **to carry out similar operations in the future or risk U.S. "boots on the ground" to carry out **Maduro**-**style **raids on cartel leader—something Mexico's President Sheinbaum very much wants to avoid. - As we can expect more operations targeting high-profile leaders, we can also **expect more retaliatory violence **in order to make it as "**painful**" as possible for the Mexican state to impose its will on the cartels. - Rival cartels will likely take advantage of the uncertainty and chaos within the CJNG to take territory, initiating a secondary wave of violence in areas it either competes in or maintains control over. ## CJNG Spotlight - Succession plan and fragmentation - With no apparent heir or succession plan, the CJNG is highly likely to **fragment violently **in spectacular fashion. Unlike the Sinaloa Cartel, a two-family organization that fractured along familial lines, El Mencho led an organization with a far larger number of high-ranking figures who lack blood ties. - Powerful commanders such as El Jardinero and EL RR each control highly capable, geographically separated factions that do not rely heavily on one another. They oversee different trafficking corridors to the U.S. border and therefore do not necessarily need to maintain cooperation for their faction’s survival. Fragmentation will be violent and geographically far reaching. - Yesterday, the CJNG retaliated in 22 different states across Mexico, offering insight into where the newly leaderless organization may fight. Conflict will primarily be **between criminal factions**, but civilians and government forces will be caught in the crossfire. The upending of longstanding extortion relationships will redefine businesses as legitimate targets, as rival CJNG factions will seek to cut off rival economic flows. Broken negotiations and trafficking relationships will also diminish criminal revenues, which will force CJNG factions to extract income from new sources. Kidnappings, vehicle thefts, and extortion of businesses  will all rise. ## Fragmentation benefits certain rivals - The killing of El Mencho will severely **weaken CJNG operations **in **Michoacán**, where the cartel has fought a protracted war driven in part by El Mencho’s personal interest in regaining control of his hometown region. Their regional rivals, Carteles Unidos, may finally be able to drive CJNG out of Michoacán if the local CJNG faction loses national backing during what is likely to become a multi-sided internal conflict. Similarly, the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, alongside its allies in the Sinaloa Cartel, will have a renewed opportunity to uproot CJNG from Guanajuato. ## Public sentiment - Yesterday's events were an **effective display **of **power **by CJNG, revealing the true reach and operational capability of the country’s largest criminal organization. The scope and intensity of retaliatory attacks across 22 states likely surprised the Mexican government, while also reinforcing sentiment within Washington that Mexico struggles to manage its own domestic security challenges. February 22 will again signal to the Mexican population that the state is incapable of guaranteeing security. This event is the latest and by far the most extreme example of the country’s deteriorating security environment (Manzo killed, Silver mine kidnapping). If the 2019 battle for Culiacán was a regional catastrophe with national viewership, February 22 represents a **national catastrophe with international visibility. **The resulting insecurity will likely have ripple effects on Claudia Sheinbaum’s public approval, particularly regarding security policy.  - Sheinbaum likely learned from AMLO’s 2019 decision to release the captured son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán under cartel pressure. That episode **significantly damaged Mexico’s credibility **domestically and abroad. Her response to the February 22 violence, marked by rapid military deployment and the use of heavy weaponry again demonstrates a clear departure from AMLO’s more non-confrontational security rhetoric. The necessary militarized response to the nationwide attacks further cements her reliance on the armed forces to combat organized crime, aligning Mexico with a broader regional trend toward militarized public security. ## Implications for Washington - The event will likely be interpreted in Washington as both a **triumph **in killing a top cartel boss and as a **failure **to manage the ensuing criminal response. The killing of El Mencho is the most significant elimination of a cartel leader since Pablo Escobar, offering a major symbolic victory for the U.S. However, CJNG’s ability to rapidly demonstrate nationwide disruptive power may imperil its long-term interests by making it politically impossible for U.S. leaders to ignore the cartel threat. The scale of the retaliation will likely revive debate around treating cartels as terrorist organizations through U.S. military action inside Mexico. ## Other International Attention - The 22 February retaliatory violence significantly damages Mexico’s international image and will raise concerns within the global community, particularly because **Guadalajara**, one of the **host cities **for the **FIFA World Cup 2026**, was the epicenter of the CJNG retaliation. This event will be foremost in travelers' minds and may attract scrutiny from FIFA. - The events are also likely to **inflame **regional tensions with **Guatemala**, which again deployed security forces to its northern border amid fears of spillover violence from cartel activity in Chiapas. These concerns are credible given that both Mexican criminal groups and security forces have crossed into Guatemalan territory in past years. ## Recommendations - **Reconsider travel to impacted states in the coming days and weeks.** - **Utilize secure transportation for any overland movements within impacted areas.** - **Be prepared for additional disruptions caused by ongoing retaliatory violence carried out by the CJNG.** ## STANDING BY TO Support Global Guardian is closely monitoring the situation and can support clients who need assistance with local teams in the area to provide: - Evacuation planning and execution - Executive protection - Secure transportation - Emergency response - Intelligence reports - Risk assessments Click below to contact Global Guardian's 24/7 Operations Center or call us directly at +1 (703) 566-9463. [![Request Security](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2233164/71797a38-0e6b-40f6-a22c-490cf3752bd2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2233164/71797a38-0e6b-40f6-a22c-490cf3752bd2) [** Previous Post](https://www.globalguardian.com/newsroom/border-report-feb-23-2026) [Next Post **](https://www.globalguardian.com/newsroom/us-iran-conflict-situation-update) ## Check Out Our Latest Updates [ ### Global Guardian's Zev Faintuch Featured in Newsweek TRUMP WARNS OF ‘MASSIVE ATTACK’ ON IRAN AMID QUESTIONS OVER ENDGAME Global Guardian Head of Research and Intelligence Zev Faintuch contributed analysis to Newsweek as... ](https://www.globalguardian.com/newsroom/newsweek-july-24-2026) [ ### Major U.S. Attack on Iran Appears Imminent The situation in the Middle East continues to escalate vertically, horizontally, and rhetorically with increasing signs that the United States (U.S.) is poised to launch a... ](https://www.globalguardian.com/newsroom/major-u.s.-attack-on-iran-appears-imminent) [ ### Conflict with Iran Escalating after Deaths of U.S. Service Members The U.S. military has now struck Iran for 10 straight days, targeting military installations threatening tanker ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and other sites in Bandar... ](https://www.globalguardian.com/newsroom/conflict-with-iran-escalating-after-deaths-of-u.s.-service-members) ### Subscribe Here Sign up today to receive monthly articles curated by the Global Guardian team on relevant and important safety and security topics. ![ul listed](https://www.globalguardian.com/hubfs/ul-listed.png "ul listed") ![GG_CertificationFooter_Black-01](https://www.globalguardian.com/hubfs/GG_CertificationFooter_Black-01.webp "GG_CertificationFooter_Black-01") ![ndaa compliant](https://www.globalguardian.com/hubfs/ndaa2.png "ndaa compliant") ##### Solutions [Corporate Solutions](https://www.globalguardian.com/corporate-solutions) [Personal Solutions](https://www.globalguardian.com/personal-solutions) [Government Solutions](https://www.globalguardian.com/government-solutions) ##### Services [Traveler Security](https://www.globalguardian.com/#1) [Asset Security](https://www.globalguardian.com/#2) [Cyber Security](https://www.globalguardian.com/#3) [Customized Security](https://www.globalguardian.com/#4) ##### Learn [Global Digest](https://www.globalguardian.com/global-digest) [Newsroom](https://www.globalguardian.com/newsroom) [Case Studies](https://www.globalguardian.com/case-studies) [FAQ](https://www.globalguardian.com/faq) [COVID-19](https://www.globalguardian.com/covid-19-newsroom) ##### Company [About Global Guardian](https://www.globalguardian.com/about-global-guardian) [Executive Leadership](https://www.globalguardian.com/executive-leadership) [Global Coverage](https://www.globalguardian.com/global-coverage) [Careers](https://www.globalguardian.com/careers) [Licensing](https://www.globalguardian.com/licensing) ##### Talk to Us [+1 (703) 566-9463](tel:+17035669463) [Contact Us](https://www.globalguardian.com/contact) [Request Security](https://www.globalguardian.com/request-security-services) [Emergency Support](https://www.globalguardian.com/emergency-support) [Travel Agents & Affiliates](https://www.globalguardian.com/air-ambulance/travel-agents-affiliates) Stay Connected ### STAY CONNECTED Join Our Community [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-guardian-llc/) © Copyright 2026 Global Guardian. All Rights Reserved. | [Privacy Policy](https://www.globalguardian.com/privacy-policy) [|](https://www.globalguardian.com/privacy-policy) [Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information](https://www.globalguardian.com/privacy-rights-request-form) | [Privacy Rights Request Form](https://www.globalguardian.com/privacy-rights-request-form) [|](https://www.globalguardian.com/privacy-policy)[XML Sitemap ](https://www.globalguardian.com/sitemap.xml)[| ](https://www.globalguardian.com/privacy-policy)[HTML Sitemap](https://www.globalguardian.com/html-sitemap) Global Guardian needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, please review our [Privacy Policy.](https://globalguardian-2233164.hs-sites.com/privacy-policy) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=986625&fmt=gif)