Americans in western Mexico were left stranded by roadblocks, arson and widespread shutdowns after security forces engaged and killed Jalisco New Generation leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”.
The U.S. provided intelligence support for the Mexican operation that located and confronted Cervantes, according to officials.
Mexican troops attempted to capture him at his home in Tapalpa, Jalisco, and came under fire during the raid.
Mexico’s Defense Department said four people were killed at the scene and three others, including Cervantes, were wounded and later died while being flown to Mexico City.
Cartel gunmen erected blockades and set vehicles ablaze, choking highways and forcing residents and travelers to shelter in place.
Authorities reported most of the roadblocks were cleared by late Sunday, but the disruptions already affected thousands, including American tourists and expatriates.
In Guadalajara businesses closed, streets emptied and the international airport operated with limited personnel amid the unrest.
The State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Cervantes’s arrest.
The Jalisco New Generation cartel began operating around 2009 and is considered one of Mexico’s most powerful and fastest-growing criminal organizations.
The United States provided intelligence support to the Mexican government in order to assist with an operation in Talpalpa, Jalisco, Mexico, in which Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, an infamous drug lord and leader within the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was eliminated.… https://t.co/iKxsAMmnLN
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) February 23, 2026
U.S. Ambassador Ron Johnson praised Mexico’s armed forces and pointed to closer coordination between the two countries.
He added that “under the leadership of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bilateral cooperation has reached unprecedented levels.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on X that the U.S. government provided intelligence support for the mission and framed Cervantes as a major target for both nations.
“‘El Mencho’ was a top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland,” she wrote.
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For Americans on the ground the crackdown and cartel backlash collided in real time as flights, roads and basic services were slowed while security forces raced to restore control.
The violence underscored how quickly cartel power can paralyze major tourist corridors and key cities even after a kingpin is taken off the board.
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