Drug Cartels
Federal forces kill CJNG leader El Mencho in Jalisco raid
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Mexican authorities killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), on February 22, 2026, in Tapalpa, Jalisco. Two of his escorts were arrested during the operation and now face charges for possession of exclusive army weapons. The event has triggered violence in Jalisco, impacting flights and tourism.
The U.S. Treasury has imposed sanctions on two Mexican men and nine companies tied to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The measures target a fuel theft operation that generates tens of millions of dollars annually for the group. A new alert was also issued to banks about related smuggling risks.
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Mexican authorities detained a leader of a Northeast Cartel cell in Nuevo León. The operation also netted a woman accomplice along with weapons, vehicles and seven tigers.
The Trump administration has escalated its campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by designating the so‑called Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, according to an NPR report. The move, published in the Federal Register on Monday, accuses senior Venezuelan military and political figures of drug trafficking and links the network to Maduro’s government.
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Donald Trump's administration is considering direct military operations against Mexican cartels on national soil, using drones and CIA agents, according to an NBC News report. These actions would expand anti-drug efforts in the region, though no final decision has been made. President Claudia Sheinbaum has stressed bilateral cooperation without subordination.