25 National Guard Members slain as cartel chaos erupts following death of “El Mencho”

The recent death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the long-hunted leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has triggered a devastating wave of retaliatory violence across Mexico.

On February 22, 2026, the drug lord died while in custody after being wounded during a high-stakes military raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco.

The vacuum left by his death immediately ignited a coordinated series of attacks by cartel loyalists aiming to destabilise the region and punish government forces.

At least 25 members of the National Guard were killed in the initial 24 hours of unrest, marking one of the deadliest days for Mexican security forces in recent history.

The casualties occurred during six separate ambushes and firefights concentrated in the state of Jalisco.

Beyond the National Guard, the death toll includes a prison guard, a state prosecutor’s agent, and at least 30 cartel members, highlighting the intensity of the urban warfare unfolding in the cartel’s heartland.

The violence quickly spread to at least 20 states, characterised by “narcobloqueos” where hijacked vehicles were torched to block major highways.

In response, the Mexican government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, has deployed an additional 2,500 soldiers to western Mexico to regain control.

The chaos has also had international repercussions, with the U.S. and Canadian governments issuing emergency “shelter-in-place” orders for their citizens and tourists currently in Jalisco and Michoacán.

As the situation remains fluid, security experts warn that the death of El Mencho may lead to a prolonged period of internal power struggles within the CJNG or opportunistic incursions by rival groups like the Sinaloa Cartel.

While the Mexican government views the capture and death of Oseguera as a significant victory, the immediate priority remains containing the widespread civil unrest and protecting the civilian population from the escalating crossfire.