El Mencho: Jalisco Blockades Decrease After CJNG Leader’s Death

TAPALPA, MEXICO – The death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has triggered widespread unrest across Mexico, with reports of narco-blockades, clashes with security forces, and disruptions to travel. The operation that resulted in El Mencho’s death unfolded on February 22nd in the rural municipality of Tapalpa, according to an official statement from Mexican authorities.

During a firefight, eight members of the CJNG were killed, and several others were gravely wounded, including El Mencho himself. He later died while being transported to Mexico City for medical treatment. The fallout from the operation has been significant, with hundreds of roadblocks reported across 20 different Mexican states, including Baja California, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas. Authorities reported a total of 62 deaths, including 25 National Guard members, and 70 arrests.

El Mencho was considered the most wanted criminal leader on both sides of the US-Mexico border. Under his decade-long command, the CJNG demonstrated a level of brazenness rarely seen in Mexican cartels, including shooting down a Mexican military helicopter and attempting to assassinate Omar García Harfuch, then Mexico City’s police chief, now the nationwide security chief. The U.S. State Department had offered a $15 million bounty for information leading to his capture.

Despite El Mencho’s death, authorities anticipate the CJNG will remain a powerful force. The cartel is structured more vertically than other Mexican criminal networks, with high-ranking members reporting directly to El Mencho and allegedly involved in brokering alliances, such as one with the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel to battle a rival faction known as the Mayiza in the state of Sinaloa.

As of Monday, February 23rd, the situation remained fluid. While authorities reported a significant decrease in the number of blockades – from 65 to seven in Jalisco – isolated incidents were reported in Michoacán and Nayarit, which were quickly addressed. The Mexican government stated that security forces are working to clear remaining obstructions and ensure the safety of the population.

The unrest has impacted daily life for many Mexicans. In Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, classes were suspended and a “Código Rojo” (Red Code) protocol was activated. The governor of Jalisco, Pablo Lemus, announced that in-person classes would resume gradually and that the “Código Rojo” could be lifted as the situation normalizes.

The operation to capture El Mencho involved a coordinated effort between the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena), the National Guard, the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC), and the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO), with support from U.S. Agencies. Authorities have confirmed that El Mencho’s body has been genetically identified.

The Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) has opened 57 investigations in 14 states related to the violence following the operation, with 37 of those investigations concentrated in Jalisco. Personnel from the Public Ministry and the Federal Ministerial Police remain in the region to collect evidence, process crime scenes, and formally identify the deceased.

The CJNG is one of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartels, with a presence in over 40 countries and affiliates in nearly all 50 U.S. States. Formed around 2010-2011 from remnants of the Milenio Cartel, the CJNG has become a key source of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine entering the United States. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a security alert on February 22nd, advising U.S. Citizens to shelter in place in certain areas due to ongoing security operations and road blockages.

While cartel violence is not new in Mexico, this latest bout of unrest comes at a sensitive time for the country, particularly with Claudia Sheinbaum in her first year of administration and the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which will include games played in Guadalajara. Security analyst Chris Dalby noted a heavier cartel presence in tourist resorts like Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and Playa del Carmen.