Mexican army kills leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel, official says

Source: npr


February 22, 2026 2:09 PM


MEXICO CITY — The Mexican army killed the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, "El Mencho, " in an operation Sunday, a federal official said.

The official, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said it happened during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco.

It followed several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states. Such tactics are commonly used by the cartels to block military operations.

Videos circulating social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the city of Puerto Vallarta, a major city in Jalisco, and sprinting through the airport of the state's capital in panic. On Sunday afternoon, Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to Puerto Vallarta "due to an ongoing security situation" and advised customers not to go to their airport......................



Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/02/22/nx-s1-5722897/mexican-army-kills-leader-of-jalisco-new-generation-cartel-official-says

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🇲🇽 Chaos at Guadalajara International Airport, with panic inside the terminal after the killing of CJNG leader “El Mencho”.

CJNG cartel gunmen attacked the Ixtapa prison in Puerto Vallarta, reportedly triggering a prison break.

A shopping mall parking lot in Puerto Vallarta set on fire by the attackers.

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FROM THE OP:
https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1776x1184+0+0/resize/1200/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F72%2F15%2F55be195946a0884ddd37667d5d71%2Fap26053652282550.jpg
A vehicle sits charred after being set on fire, on a road in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, after the death of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as"El Mencho."
Alejandra Leyva/AP/AP