After El Mencho’s killing, his cartel’s power endures deep inside the US
#El Mencho #Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) #U.S. #Mexico #Drug Trafficking #Weapons Trafficking #Fuel Smuggling #Money Laundering #Border Security #DEA #Mexican Army #Trump administration #Sheinbaum #Arms #Assets #Complicity
📌 Key Takeaways
- El Mencho's killing did not dismantle his cartel's U.S. operations.
- The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) maintains extensive networks in the U.S. for weapons, fuel, and money laundering.
- U.S. action is needed to address money laundering, fuel smuggling, and illegal weapons trafficking from the U.S. into Mexico.
- The cartel utilizes complicit U.S. companies across various sectors to facilitate its operations.
- A significant percentage of weapons used by Mexican forces originate in the U.S.
- The cartel has accumulated hundreds of millions in assets within the U.S. through diverse money laundering schemes.
- Mexican officials are calling for greater U.S. action on its own territory to combat the cartel's power.
📖 Full Retelling
After El Mencho’s killing, his cartel’s power endures deep inside the US. Mexican special forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” in a U.S.-backed raid on February 22nd, 2026, marking a significant takedown of a cartel leader. However, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) continues to operate extensively within the U.S., leveraging networks for weapons, fuel smuggling, and money laundering that sustain its power and profits. This necessitates increased U.S. action on its own territory, including tackling money laundering, fuel smuggling, and illegal weapons trafficking from the U.S. into Mexico. The Trump administration reportedly diverted resources away from these efforts, but the current administration states it is focused on border security, prosecuting traffickers, and deporting cartel members. The cartel relies on a complex web of economic integration, including complicit U.S. companies in activities like fuel smuggling and money laundering. A significant portion of the weapons used by Mexican forces against the cartel originate from the U.S., highlighting the need to address arms trafficking. The cartel has amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in assets within the U.S., utilizing various money laundering schemes across multiple sectors, including real estate, restaurants, and the stock market. Mexican officials are urging the U.S. to increase its efforts to disrupt these networks.
🏷️ Themes
Drug Cartels, U.S.-Mexico Border, Organized Crime, National Security, Law Enforcement, International Relations, Arms Trafficking, Money Laundering, Fuel Smuggling
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Original Source
try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry U.S., Israel strike Iran — what is known so far Israel moves against Iran, ending diplomatic hopes Bitcoin prices fall below $64,000 after U.S./Israel attack on Iran OpenAI hits $730B valuation as Amazon, NVIDIA, and SoftBank inject $110B (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) After El Mencho’s killing, his cartel’s power endures deep inside the US By Reuters Commodities Published 02/28/2026, 06:02 AM Updated 02/28/2026, 06:06 AM After El Mencho’s killing, his cartel’s power endures deep inside the US 0 CL 2.78% By Laura Gottesdiener, Stefanie Eschenbacher and Sarah Kinosian MEXICO CITY, Feb 28 - The Mexican government’s killing of one of the world’s biggest kingpins, known as "El Mencho," is being heralded as a major blow to drug trafficking. But it did little to dismantle his cartel’s critical U.S. operations, which will continue fueling its dominance unless Washington steps up the fight inside its own territory, U.S. and Mexican security sources said. Mexican special forces killed the elusive drug lord Nemesio Oseguera in a U.S.-backed raid on Feb. 22. It was the biggest takedown of a cartel kingpin in at least a decade. El Mencho’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel responded by torching buildings and blockading roads across Mexico in a terrifying display of its territorial reach that grabbed headlines worldwide. On the U.S. side of the border, the cartel also has extensive networks that receive far less attention yet are the lifeblood of its power and profits, current and former U.S. and Mexican officials said. These enable it to source military-grade weapons, smuggle billions of dollars’ worth of fuel, and launder billions more in cartel cash. "The United States has become increasingly important to cartels, especially the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, for it to thrive," said Alamdar Hamdani, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said that the Trump admin...
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