Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Defense Secretary General Ricardo Trevilla detailed the federal forces' arrest of CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, El Mencho, emphasizing no U.S. military involvement but intelligence sharing, during statements reported between 4:45 PM and 5:45 PM UTC on February 23, 2026. A romantic partner of El Mencho provided key information initiating the operation, according to Trevilla via LĂłpez DĂłriga on X. Sheinbaum stated all operations were conducted solely by federal forces, specifically the Secretariat of National Defense, with U.S. intelligence shared beforehand, as posted by clashreport on X. Trevilla explained the military strategy in a Radio_Formula press conference, per lopezdoriga on X. These updates follow the SAT offices vandalism in Puerto Vallarta reported in the prior window through 4:45 PM UTC. Vehicle burnings continued in the sierra of Aguililla, MichoacĂĄn, over the past hour, according to azucenau on X citing mimorelia_ videos, while MichoacĂĄn Governor Alfredo RamĂrez Bedolla reported blockades cleared and burned vehicles being removed, per Radio_Formula via David GalvĂĄn. U.S. Senator Mike Lee referenced a Costco building burned by cartels in Puerto Vallarta post-arrest, as posted on X. X user Megatron_ron reported chases and car crashes between special police and cartel members in Mexico during this 59-minute window. These developments build on prior Jalisco highway closures and Governor Pablo Lemus's coordination pledges from earlier today.
