The Armed Forces of Mexico eliminated notorious drug mafia El Mencho (born Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes; July 17, 1966 – February 22, 2026) on February 22, 2026 during a secret operation backed by the US. The concerned authorities in Mexico City have admitted that they launched the operation after receiving intelligence inputs from the US. However, the assassination of Mencho, the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) – an organised crime group based in Jalisco, has sparked unrest in different provinces of the northernmost Latin American country.

The US Forces launched a direct military operation in Venezuela on January 3, 2026. They kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Moros and took him to New York after receiving instructions from President Donald John Trump in this regard. The Trump Administration alleged that Maduro and his family “provided law enforcement cover and logistical support” to cartels moving drugs throughout the region, resulting in as much as 250 tonnes of cocaine trafficked through Venezuela annually by 2020.

During the Maduro campaign, the US President warned Mexico, stressing that the US Forces might intervene, if the Mexican Government failed to take immediate action against drug terrorism. Hence, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has been under tremendous pressure since the detention of Maduro. On February 22, Trump prompted the Mexican Government to implement his plan.

Reuters reported on February 22 that a new US Military-led task force played a key role in the raid, led and carried out by the Mexican Forces. Later, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on social media that the US provided intelligence support, adding that the Trump Administration “commends and thanks the Mexican military for their cooperation and successful execution of this operation“.

Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry of Mexico has mentioned in a statement that Mencho was left seriously injured in a shootout in Jalisco and he died during an air transfer to Mexico City. As the military operation triggered a set of violence across the country, with gunmen torching cars, blocking highways and setting businesses ablaze; the Sheinbaum Administration braced for more violence. The Government has already issued take shelter orders.

El Mencho, the 59-year-old former Police Officer, used to run a vast criminal organisation responsible for trafficking huge quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the US. Intelligence agencies of various countries, including the US, had been searching for him for a long time. Mencho, considered one of the most powerful and feared drug lords in Mexico, also had influence in politics.

Interestingly, President Trump acknowledged his country’s role in the killing of Mencho in a cryptic post on Truth Social, as he wrote: “We’re winning too much, it’s just not fair! President DJT.” Although the US President did not directly name anyone, it is clear that he targeted international drug trafficking rackets. Later, Leavitt, the Press Secretary of the White House, stated that the President was committed to bringing narco-terrorists to justice.

The military operation also caused travel disruptions, as major airlines, including Air Canada, United Airlines, Aeromexico and American Airlines, suspended flights to the area due to security fears. Meanwhile, Mexican President Sheinbaum has urged calm after the killing of El Mencho, saying: “We work every day for peace, security, justice and the well-being of Mexico. There is absolute coordination with the Governments of all states; we must remain informed and calm.“

Meanwhile,

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das