For years, the name Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, better known as "El Mencho," was whispered with a mix of terror and reverence across Mexico. As the founder and undisputed leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), he transformed a small splinter group into a global criminal empire that rivaled even the infamous Sinaloa Cartel.
However, a massive military operation on February 22, 2026, finally brought his reign to a violent end. Here is the story of the man who became the world’s most wanted drug lord.
From Avocado Fields to Global Infamy
El Mencho’s story follows the classic, grim trajectory of many Mexican kingpins. Born in 1966 into a poor farming family in Michoacán, he dropped out of primary school in the fifth grade to work in avocado fields. By age 14, he was already guarding marijuana plantations.
His criminal career took a trans-border turn in the 1980s when he immigrated illegally to California. There, he was arrested multiple times for selling heroin and eventually deported. Upon his return to Mexico, he briefly worked as a police officer in Jalisco—a role that provided him with the insider knowledge and tactical training he would later use to build his own army.
The Birth of the CJNG
In the late 2000s, El Mencho founded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Unlike older cartels that relied on tradition and local loyalty, the CJNG was built on extreme militarization and high-tech violence.
Tactics: His group became famous for using
"narco-tanks" (armored trucks), rocket launchers, and even shooting down a Mexican military helicopter in 2015.
The "Lord of the Roosters": A fan of cockfighting, El Mencho earned the nickname El Señor de los Gallos.
The Business: While they started with methamphetamines, the CJNG eventually dominated the global fentanyl trade, contributing significantly to the opioid crisis in the United States.
The $15 Million Man
By the 2020s, El Mencho was the primary target of both the Mexican government and the U.S. DEA. The U.S. State Department offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest—the same amount once offered for "El Chapo" Guzmán.
He was a ghost for years, rarely photographed and constantly moving through the rugged mountains of Jalisco and Michoacán. Rumors frequently circulated that he was suffering from kidney disease and required a private hospital hidden in the jungle.
The Final Showdown (February 2026)
On Sunday, February 22, 2026, the hunt ended. Following months of intelligence gathering and cooperation between U.S. and Mexican agencies, special forces raided a rural compound in Tapalpa, Jalisco.
The Raid: An intense gunbattle broke out as El Mencho’s security detail attempted to repel federal troops.
The Death: El Mencho was seriously wounded during the exchange. While authorities attempted to airlift him to Mexico City for medical treatment and interrogation, he succumbed to his injuries mid-flight.
The Aftermath: His death immediately triggered a wave of "narco-blockades" and retaliatory violence across western Mexico, as his followers reacted to the loss of their leader.
What’s Next?
With El Mencho gone, experts warn of a potential power vacuum. The CJNG is a decentralized "franchise" model, meaning several lieutenants may now fight for control, or the cartel could splinter into smaller, even more violent factions.
