Over 70 Dead as Mexican Security Forces Battle Cartel Gunmen Following Killing of Notorious Drug Lord "El Mencho"

More than 70 people are dead as Mexican security forces battle cartel gunmen after the military killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 24, 2026, 5:53 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politico

High Stakes Military Operation in Tapalpa

The Mexican military successfully took down Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the country’s most powerful drug lord, following a targeted shootout in the town of Tapalpa. Authorities located his hideout by tracking one of his romantic partners, leading to a fierce firefight in a wooded area where the cartel leader and two bodyguards were fatally wounded. Although they were taken into custody, all three died during transit to Mexico City.

The fallout from the operation has been catastrophic, with a body count exceeding 70 people as of Monday. Security officials reported that the dead include security forces, suspected cartel members, and civilians. Among the high profile casualties was another senior cartel member killed in Jalisco who had reportedly been coordinating violence and offering 1,000 USD bounties for every Mexican soldier killed.

National Retaliation and Blockades

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel responded to the death of their leader with a massive display of force, paralyzing large swaths of the country. Cartel fighters erected more than 250 roadblocks across 20 different states and set numerous vehicles on fire to impede government movement. The violence was particularly intense for the Mexican National Guard, which saw 25 members killed across six separate attacks.

In the state of Jalisco, where the cartel maintains its strongest presence, roughly 30 criminal suspects were killed during the weekend's clashes, with additional fatalities reported in neighboring Michoacan. The surge in violence forced several states to cancel school sessions on Monday, while both local and foreign governments issued urgent warnings for citizens to remain indoors.