A soldier stands guard by a charred car after it was set on hearth, in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, following the dying of the chief of the Jalisco New Technology Cartel, Nemesio Oseguera, generally known as “El Mencho.”
Armando Solis/AP
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Armando Solis/AP
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — College was canceled in a number of Mexican states and native and overseas governments alike warned their residents to remain inside, as widespread violence erupted following the military’s killing of the highly effective chief of the Jalisco New Technology Cartel.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, generally known as “El Mencho” was the boss of one of many fastest-growing legal networks in Mexico, infamous for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the US and staging brazen assaults towards authorities officers who challenged it.
He was killed throughout a shoot-out in his house state of Jalisco because the Mexican navy tried to seize him. Cartel members responded with violence throughout the nation, blocking roads and setting hearth to automobiles.
President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm and authorities introduced late Sunday they’d cleared many of the greater than 250 cartel roadblocks throughout 20 states. The White Home confirmed that the U.S. supplied intelligence assist to the operation to seize the cartel chief and applauded Mexico’s military for taking down a person who was one of the wished criminals in each nations.
Mexico hoped the dying of the world’s largest fentanyl traffickers would ease Trump administration strain to do extra towards the cartels, however many remained hunkered down and on edge as they waited to see the highly effective cartel’s response.
Many worry extra violence
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state and Mexico’s second-largest metropolis, was virtually fully shut down on Sunday as fearful residents stayed house.
Passengers arriving to town’s worldwide airport Sunday night time had been informed it was working with restricted personnel due to the burst of violence.
Jacinta Murcia, a 64-year-old diet merchandise vendor, was amongst these nervously strolling late Sunday night time by the airport, the place earlier within the day vacationers sprinted and ducked behind chairs fearing violence. Most flights into town had been suspended on Sunday.
Murcia anxiously scrolled by information tales on social media exhibiting the face of “El Mencho” and despatched messages to her youngsters, who had been monitoring her location as she tried to journey throughout town to her home after darkish.
“My plan at the moment leaving the airport is to see if there are any taxis, however I am terrified of every thing. That there are blockades, that there is a curfew, that one thing may occur,” she mentioned. “I am on their own.”
Authorities in Jalisco, Michoacan and Guanajuato reported at the least 14 different individuals killed Sunday, together with seven Nationwide Guard troops.
Movies circulating on social media confirmed vacationers in Puerto Vallarta strolling on the seaside with smoke rising within the distance.
In one other a part of the airport a gaggle of aged Mexicans gathered, discussing easy methods to get house.
“We higher all go collectively,” one mentioned. “Go together with God.”
A blow towards a cartel might be a diplomatic coup
David Mora, Mexico analyst for Worldwide Disaster Group, mentioned the seize and outburst of violence marks some extent of inflection in Sheinbaum’s push to crack down on cartels and relieve U.S. pressures.
U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded Mexico do extra to struggle the smuggling of the often-deadly drug fentanyl, threatening to impose extra tariffs or take unilateral navy motion if the nation doesn’t present outcomes.
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