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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt released a statement confirming the United States provided “intelligence support” in an operation that resulted in the death of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho.”
“The United States provided intelligence support to the Mexican government in order to assist with an operation in Talpalpa, Jalisco, Mexico, in which Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, an infamous drug lord and leader within the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was eliminated. ‘El Mencho’ was a was a top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland,” Leavitt said.
“Last year, President Trump rightfully designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization — because that’s exactly what it is. In this operation, three additional cartel members were killed, three were wounded, and two were arrested. President Trump has been very clear — the United States will ensure narcoterrorists sending deadly drugs to our homeland are forced to face the wrath of justice they have long deserved,” she continued.
“The Trump Administration also commends and thanks the Mexican military for their cooperation and successful execution of this operation,” she added.
The United States provided intelligence support to the Mexican government in order to assist with an operation in Talpalpa, Jalisco, Mexico, in which Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, an infamous drug lord and leader within the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was eliminated.… https://t.co/iKxsAMmnLN
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) February 23, 2026
Axios shared further:
President Trump has for months pressed Mexican officials to target drug cartels and the U.S. had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” who led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) — a designated terrorist organization in the United States.
U.S. tourists were among those affected after violence erupted in multiple cities following the death of “El Mencho,” which Mexico’s Defense Ministry said on X occurred after the Mexican military came under attack while flying the detained cartel leader to Mexico City.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo urged residents via posts to her social media accounts to remain “calm” and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico urged Americans to “shelter in place” in multiple states after images showed vehicles set on fire and smoke rising above beachfront hotels in Puerto Vallarta, a Pacific coastal resort town.
U.S. tourists were among those stranded in Puerto Vallarta, as Air Canada announced it was canceling flights to and from the town’s airport due to the ongoing “security situation.” Delta, American Airlines and Alaskan Airlines reported cancelations and delays in the tourist hub.
Meanwhile, other reports stated that over two dozen members of the Mexican National Guard were killed in multiple attacks after the operation.
BREAKING: 25 Mexican National Guard troops were killed in Jalisco after cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes was killed by army. https://t.co/dkISzOM2YC
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 23, 2026
More from the Associated Press:
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was the boss of one of the fastest-growing criminal networks in Mexico, known for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks against government officials who challenged the cartel.
He was killed after a shootout in his home state of Jalisco as the Mexican military attempted to capture him. Cartel members responded with widespread violence, blocking roads and setting fire to vehicles.
Mexican Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said Monday that authorities had followed one of Oseguera Cervantes’ romantic partners to his hideout in Tapalpa, Jalisco.
Army and National Guard special forces moved in Sunday morning and immediately came under heavy fire. Eight gunmen were killed there. Oseguera Cervantes and two bodyguards fled into a wooded area where they were seriously wounded in a firefight, Trevilla said. They were flown out along with a wounded soldier, but El Mencho and his bodyguards died en route to Mexico City, he said.
In a different location in Jalisco, soldiers also killed another high-ranking cartel member who Trevilla said was coordinating violence and offering more than $1,000 for every soldier killed.
Also killed Sunday were a prison guard, an agent from the state prosecutor’s office and a woman who was not identified by authorities. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said some 30 criminal suspects were killed in Jalisco and four others were killed in the neighboring state of Michoacan.