U.S. military-led task force provided intelligence for Mexican operation that killed cartel boss El Mencho
Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel was launched late last year to map cartel networks
El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco Cartel New Generation, died during an air transfer to Mexico City
The operation triggered widespread violence across more than half a dozen Mexican states
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A U.S.-military-led task force played a crucial role in the Mexican military operation on Sunday, February 22, 2026, that resulted in the death of notorious cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera, known as 'El Mencho,' in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. The Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel, launched late last year to map out drug cartel networks on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, provided intelligence that aided Mexican authorities in locating the drug lord, according to a U.S. defense official. The operation, which Mexican officials described as involving 'complementary information' from U.S. authorities, triggered widespread violence across more than half a dozen Mexican states with torched cars and gunmen blocking highways.
The Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel represents a significant escalation in U.S. efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations, involving multiple government agencies in specialized intelligence collection. The task force was established with the specific mandate of tracking and disrupting the operations of powerful cartels that have long plagued both Mexico and the United States. While the U.S. official emphasized that the raid itself was conducted solely by Mexican military forces, the acknowledgment of U.S. involvement marks a notable departure from previous approaches to dealing with high-value cartel targets.
El Mencho, the leader of the Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG), was one of Mexico's most-wanted drug lords with a $10 million bounty on his head from the U.S. government. His death represents a major victory for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration, which has prioritized combating organized crime. However, the violent backlash that followed the operation underscores the enduring challenge of cartel resilience and the potential for retaliatory attacks. Mexican authorities have increased security measures in major cities following the operation, which saw cartel gunmen block roads and set vehicles ablaze in at least seven states.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes (Latin American Spanish: [neˈmesio oseˈɣeɾa seɾˈβantes]; 17 July 1966 – 22 February 2026), commonly referred to by his alias El Mencho ([el ˈmentʃo]), was a Mexican drug lord and top leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), an organized crime group based i...
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Spanish: Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, pronounced [ˈkaɾtel ðe xaˈlisko ˈnweβa xeneɾaˈsjon]), or CJNG, is a Mexican criminal syndicate, based in Jalisco and headed by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes ("El Mencho"). The cartel has been characterized by extreme violen...
A drug cartel is a criminal organization composed of independent drug lords who collude with each other in order to improve their profits and dominate the illegal drug trade. Drug cartels form with the purpose of controlling the supply of the illegal drug trade and maintaining prices at a high lev...
try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Bitcoin slips after earlier gains amid tariff volatility Can gold rise to new highs above $5,600 in 2026? Bull vs. bear argument on Friday’s Supreme Court tariff ruling 3 key earnings reports for this week to keep the AI trade alive (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) Exclusive-New US military-led group aided Mexico’s hunt for ’El Mencho’ cartel boss By Reuters World Published 02/22/2026, 04:42 PM Updated 02/22/2026, 04:54 PM Exclusive-New US military-led group aided Mexico’s hunt for ’El Mencho’ cartel boss 0 By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON, Feb 22 - A new U.S.-military-led task force specializing in intelligence collection on drug cartels played a role in the Mexican military raid on Sunday that killed the Mexican drug lord known as ’El Mencho,’ a U.S. defense official told Reuters. The Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel, which involves multiple U.S. government agencies, was quietly launched late last year with the goal of mapping out networks of drug cartel members on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. officials said. The U.S. official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, did not offer further details on any information that the U.S.-military-led task force may have offered Mexican authorities. The official stressed the raid itself was a Mexican military operation. Mexico’s defense ministry said a shootout in the western state of Jalisco left Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as ’El Mencho,’ seriously injured and he died during an air transfer to Mexico City. The ministry noted that U.S. authorities had provided "complementary information." The operation set off a wave of violence, with torched cars and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states.
