DEVELOPING: Mexican newspaper El Universal reported the elimination of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho' and leader of the CJNG cartel, during a military operation earlier today in Jalisco, prompting CJNG attacks including clashes with the Mexican Army across Jalisco and beyond, as stated by StatWatch25 on X between 5:15 PM and 5:45 PM UTC on February 22, 2026. The Mexican Army is mobilizing additional personnel to respond to the fallout from El Mencho's death, according to FaytuksNetwork on X citing El Universal. CJNG members launched attacks across Mexico following the operation, per sentdefender on X. Puerto Vallarta showed multiple fires from narco blockades, with drone footage geolocated to Muelle de Puerto Vallarta (20.6005355, -105.2394339) by Eco1_LVM and GeoConfirmed on X. El Mencho, who had a $15 million bounty from the U.S. State Department and transformed CJNG into a global trafficking organization operating in over 20 countries, rose from an avocado harvester in Michoacán to lead one of Mexico's most violent cartels, as detailed by lopez doriga on X citing lopez doriga.com. U.S. authorities previously offered $10 million for information on his whereabouts. These developments escalate CJNG violence from the Tapalpa federal operation earlier today, which spread to Guanajuato, Nayarit, Michoacán, and reports of Tamaulipas, with fires, blockades, and shootouts including in Puerto Vallarta where Americans were trapped, as previously reported by Azucena Uresti, Jorge Gómez, and others on X. Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus maintained Code Red with public transportation suspended.
