One of the most powerful Mexican drug lords, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as "El Mencho", was killed during a military operation on Sunday, February 22, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. He died of his wounds while being transported by helicopter to Mexico City after his arrest, according to information from the Mexican Ministry of Defense. The US authorities contributed to his capture by providing information within the framework of bilateral cooperation.
Who is "El Mencho", the most wanted criminal?
"The Cocaine King", sung in praise ballads and as "the master of cockfighting" for his passion for cockfighting, was one of the most wanted criminals in Mexico. The US had announced a reward of 15 million dollars for his head.
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes was born in Aguila, Michoacan state, and was 59 years old, according to official data. He grew up in a poor family, working in the fields as a child.
In his teens, he emigrated to the United States, where he began selling drugs. According to the Los Angeles Times, he even tried to build a network of clients as a dealer. In 1986, he was arrested with his brother, and in 1992, both were sent to federal prison, after which they were deported, writes the Mexican website Expanción política.
After being released from prison, "El Mencho" became a police officer in the municipality of Tomatlán, south of Jalisco. And shortly after, he began working for the Sinaloa cartel, which at the time was considered the most powerful in Mexico. In 2007, he founded his own criminal organization, which was initially called Los Matazetas and represented the armed wing of the Sinaloa cartel. In 2011, it became the Jalisco Nueva Generación, a cartel that is now considered one of the largest synthetic drug cartels in the world, the Mexican publication also reports.
"El Mencho" is responsible for the murder of tens of thousands of people, and his enemies were hanged on bridges - as a warning to others. Drug trafficking - cocaine, heroin, crystal meth and fentanyl - is one of the main sources of income for the criminal organization. Human and arms trafficking, kidnappings and money laundering are also part of its activities. Jalisco Nueva Generación operates in at least 24 of the 32 Mexican states and has modern weapons such as armored vehicles and rocket launchers, according to German public broadcaster ARD.
How rich was "El Mencho"?
According to the US Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), "El Mencho" has amassed a fortune of over $1 billion. This amount was disclosed in 2019, Expanción política points out, emphasizing that it is believed that in reality it is much higher. The DEA claims that in 2014, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes' criminal organization expanded its activities to the United States, Canada, Asia and Europe.
The Mexican website states that unlike other drug lords, "El Mencho" led a modest life, which helped him to avoid being in the spotlight. According to the publication, this has also contributed to various rumors about his death since 2015.
He has been declared dead five times
In 2015, information was spread that the authorities in Jalisco had arrested and killed him. In March 2018, a rumor about his death appeared for the second time - then it was claimed that it happened in a clash with the army. In June 2020, a third rumor about the death of "El Mencho" also appeared - and even the then President Andrés Manuel López Obrador had to deny it.
In 2022, it was reported for the fourth time that the drug lord was dead - information appeared on social networks that he had died in a hospital in Jalisco due to a health problem.
And at the end of 2023, a song revived the theory that he had died a long time ago.
However, on February 22, 2026, the official information came that Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes had been killed.
The children and wife of "El Mencho"
The son of "El Mencho" Rubén Oseguera González, called "El Menchito" was captured in 2015 and extradited to the United States in February 2020. His sister, Jessica Oseguera Gonzalez, nicknamed "La Negra", was detained the same month in Washington, where she had gone to visit her brother.
In November 2021, Mexican authorities arrested Roalinda Gonzalez, Oseguera's wife and alleged financial operator of his cartel, reported the Mexican website Expanción política.
What will happen in Mexico now?
After the death of "El Mencho", calm is not expected in Mexico. On the contrary: there is a risk of an escalation of violence. A bloody power struggle could break out that could cost the lives of many people. This was the case with the Sinaloa cartel, when its former boss "El Chapo" was extradited to the United States nine years ago. Tens of thousands of people died in the internal power struggle that ensued.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on the social network X that one of the "bloodiest and most ruthless drug lords" had been killed. "This is a wonderful development for Mexico, the United States, Latin America and the entire world. The good guys are stronger than the bad guys".