| See Day 1 here. |
Mass unrest erupted in the state of Jalisco following the assassination of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) drug cartel, nicknamed El Mencho. Armed gang members began blocking roads and setting buses and trucks on fire.
One of the groups stormed Puerto Vallarta Airport, which is the third busiest in the country because it is a key tourist route.
Video footage posted online by eyewitnesses shows people running around the airport in panic, seeking shelter. Amid the unrest in Mexico, some foreign airlines have already cancelled flights to the country. Mexican authorities have urged tourists and citizens to stay home and cancel their trips due to the serious security threat.
Earlier, Mexico reported the assassination of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, aka "El Mencho," the head of one of the country's largest drug cartels, the Jalisco New Generation. The assassination was carried out by units of the Mexican Armed Forces. In response to the actions of security forces, cartel members began blocking highways in several regions, including the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato, and Aguascalientes.
However, there has been no official confirmation from the authorities that El Mencho has been eliminated.
More from regnum.ru
Milenio: El Mencho, the head of the drug cartel, has been killed in Jalisco, Mexico.
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," the head of one of the country's largest drug cartels, the Jalisco New Generation, has been killed in Mexico. This was reported by the newspaper Milenio.
"The operation took place in the municipality of Talpa de Allende in the state of Jalisco," the publication noted, citing government sources.
The operation was carried out by units of the Mexican Armed Forces. In response to the security forces' actions, cartel members began blocking highways in several regions, including the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato, and Aguascalientes.
Cervantes was considered one of the country's most powerful drug lords following the arrest of JoaquÃn Guzmán, known as El Chapo. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel controls a significant portion of the drug trade and operates in many regions of Mexico.
Asà están equipados los narcos en México:pic.twitter.com/joG2cHgRb7
— Emmanuel Rincón (@EmmaRincon) February 22, 2026
| Courtesy of Besoeker: |
According to the statement, troops came under attack and returned fire "in defense of their integrity," leaving four CJNG members dead at the incident area and three others critically wounded. The ministry stated that those three later died during a medevac transfer to Mexico City, including Mencho.
During this operation, military personnel were attacked, so in defense of their integrity they repelled the aggression, resulting in four members of the "CJNG" criminal group dead at the scene and three seriously injured, who lost their lives during their transfer via air to Mexico City; among the latter is Ruben "N" (a) Mencho, however, the corresponding authorities will handle the expert activities for their identification.
The ministry also reported that CJNG members had armored vehicles and rocket launchers.
In addition to the above, two other members of this criminal organization were detained and various weaponry and armored vehicles were seized, including rocket launchers capable of downing aircraft and destroying armored vehicles.
The statement noted that National Guard and Mexican Army units were being deployed into the Jalisco area, where CJNG operates, to "reinforce security" amid retaliatory unrest this afternoon.
| Courtesy of Skidmark: US military-led task force helps take down one of Mexico's most dangerous drug lords: Live updates |
Related:
El Mencho 02/22/2026 CJNG gunmen going nuts all over Mexico right now
El Mencho 11/27/2025 Cartel war in Michoacan
El Mencho 07/09/2025 Senate GOP focuses on law enforcement to stop Mexican cartels, Democrats blame U.S. gun industry
El Mencho 02/22/2026 CJNG gunmen going nuts all over Mexico right now
El Mencho 11/27/2025 Cartel war in Michoacan
El Mencho 07/09/2025 Senate GOP focuses on law enforcement to stop Mexican cartels, Democrats blame U.S. gun industry