El Mencho’s Death is a Tactical Victory, Not the End of Cartels

On February 22, the Mexican army carried out an operation resulting in the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes (“El Mencho”), notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). On the surface, this marks a significant victory for the Mexican Government in its battle against cartel power. For years, CJNG has been one of the most dominant and violent criminal organizations in Mexico, heavily involved in trafficking synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl and methamphetamine, into the United States and Canada. However, the immediate aftermath, along with the historical pattern of similar “kingpin” operations, suggests that long-term change remains uncertain.

GlobalMina KimMarch 30, 2026El Mencho, Mexico, Mexico Cartels, US-Mexico, Trump MexicoComment