A military operation eliminating one of Mexico’s most dangerous drug lords has exposed the shocking reach of cartel power, resulting in at least 27 Mexican officials dead and widespread chaos across 16 states—a grim reminder of what unchecked criminal organizations can do to a nation.
High-Stakes Operation Targets Cartel Kingpin
Mexican security forces conducted a coordinated military operation on February 22, 2026, in Tapalpa, Jalisco, targeting Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The operation involved the Mexican Army, the National Guard, the Mexican Air Force, and the Attorney General’s Office, with intelligence support from U.S. agencies.
During the armed confrontation, Oseguera Cervantes sustained critical wounds and was evacuated by helicopter, but died en route to a medical facility. The operation also resulted in six additional cartel member deaths and the seizure of armored vehicles, heavy weapons, and tactical equipment.
Devastating Cartel Retaliation Claims Lives
The immediate aftermath of the operation revealed the cartel’s frightening capacity for coordinated violence. At least 27 Mexican officials died during the operation and subsequent retaliation, including one National Guard member during the initial assault, six more in Zapopan, one jail guard killed during a Puerto Vallarta riot, and one state prosecutor’s office agent in Guadalajara. Some reports indicate up to 25 National Guard troops killed in total. These casualties underscore the severe risks Mexican security forces face when confronting well-armed criminal organizations that operate with military-level coordination and firepower.
Multi-State Violence and Infrastructure Attacks
CJNG members launched retaliatory attacks across at least 16 states, establishing road blockades using hijacked vehicles set ablaze throughout Jalisco and extending into Michoacán, Guanajuato, Colima, Tamaulipas, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, and Sinaloa. In Guadalajara’s metropolitan area alone, authorities confirmed 20 active blockade points.
Guanajuato experienced more than 70 attacks across 23 municipalities, including 60 arson incidents. The violence targeted civilian infrastructure: 18 Banco del Bienestar branches, 69 Oxxo convenience stores, a Costco building, and a gas station in Puerto Vallarta sustained damage. This widespread destruction demonstrates how cartel violence directly threatens ordinary citizens and commerce.
JUST IN🚨: Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) ambushing Mexican National Guard vehicles using remotely detonated roadside IEDs – a deadly trap set along patrol routes. This is the evolving threat level in Mexico's cartel wars. ⚠️🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/AwOzTT1Bvo
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) February 23, 2026
Transportation Networks Crippled by Cartel Response
The cartel’s retaliation paralyzed the regional transportation infrastructure. Puerto Vallarta International Airport cancelled all international flights and most domestic services, affecting major carriers including Southwest, Alaska, United, Delta, Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines. Bus and urban rail services throughout the Guadalajara metropolitan area were suspended, including Mi Macro Periférico and the Sistema de Tren Eléctrico Urbano lines. Long-distance bus services from Mexico City to western states were cancelled. Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro issued a Code Red alert, while the U.S. Embassy directed American citizens to shelter in place across multiple states, highlighting the operation’s international security implications.
Questions About Strategic Effectiveness
While eliminating a major cartel leader represents a tactical victory, the coordinated multi-state response raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of leadership-focused strategies against organized crime. The CJNG demonstrated operational continuity despite losing its top leader, launching sophisticated attacks across 16 states with an apparent command structure intact.
Thirty cartel members died, and two were arrested, yet the organization mobilized enough resources to kill 27 officials and terrorize entire regions. This suggests cartels have evolved beyond dependence on individual leaders and now operate more like decentralized military organizations. For Americans watching Mexico’s security challenges, this operation illustrates the formidable nature of cartel power and why border security remains critical to preventing spillover violence.
JUST IN🚨: Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) ambushing Mexican National Guard vehicles using remotely detonated roadside IEDs – a deadly trap set along patrol routes. This is the evolving threat level in Mexico's cartel wars. ⚠️🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/AwOzTT1Bvo
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) February 23, 2026
Sources:
2026 Jalisco operation – Wikipedia
25 Mexican National Guard troops killed in Jalisco after cartel leader’s capture – Times Colonist