Mexico’s most wanted man and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, popularly known as “El Mencho”, was recently killed during a military operation aimed at arresting him.
El Mencho led the CJNG, which became one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal groups under his leadership, expanding its operations across several states and internationally.
In this article, Tribune Online takes a look at ten key facts about El Mencho:
His full name was Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, popularly known as El Mencho.
He was born on July 17, 1966, in Aguililla, Michoacán, Mexico.
He founded and led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Under his leadership, CJNG grew rapidly in the early 2010s and became one of Mexico’s dominant criminal organisations.
He reportedly worked with other criminal groups before building his own organisation, which expanded quickly during the 2010s.
U.S. authorities accused him of trafficking large quantities of drugs into the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) once listed him among its most wanted fugitives and offered a multi-million dollar reward for information leading to his capture.
His cartel was linked to violent clashes with rival groups and security forces.
He became one of the most high-profile cartel figures in recent years due to increased international law enforcement attention.
He was killed on February 22, 2026, during a Mexican military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, and later died from injuries sustained in the raid while being transported for medical treatment.
