Drug Lord Killed in Mexican Military Operation with US Support

Guest Commentary

Audio By Carbonatix

By Amber Ginter, Crosswalk.com

On Sunday, February 22nd, 2026, a major Mexican drug lord, Nemesio Oseguera (“El Muncho”) was killed in a bilateral military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco. Reported by the country’s Defense Department, this death has created a widespread impact as one of the most significant blows to organized crime. Since President Donald Trump’s crackdown on drug cartels, operations like this with US intelligence support have nearly gone viral.

As a former police officer, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes was the main leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). This supplier provided most doses of fentanyl to the United States, carrying a $15 million U.S. bounty, to be exact. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), more than 47 million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and 10,000 pounds of powder were seized in 2025, with numbers increasing every year.

Since taking over for Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel, who was arrested in 2016 and is currently facing a life sentence at ADX Florence, Colorado, Nemesio Oseguera grew the CJNG from a local criminal group to a global trafficking organization.

After 15 years of growth, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau explains the death of Oseguera, one of the “bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins,” as “a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and around the world. The good guys are stronger than the bad guys.”

Following his death, four others were killed in Jalisco, with Oseguera Cervantes, another drug lord leader, at the top of the list. Two others were detained and seized, including armed vehicles, and rocket launchers “capable of downing aircraft and destroying armored vehicles.” As a result of the attack, three members of the armed forces were injured and are currently receiving treatment.

Since the attack, 21 highways are blocked, and only 5 have been reopened. As roadblocks, burning vehicles, and billowing dark smoke fill the air, it’s evident that uncaptured cartels are still attempting to slow and block military operations. Using Army units and the Mexican National Guard, central Mexico and surrounding states are mobilizing reinforced security.

Warning tourists that Mexico still remains in a Code Red, Jalisco state Governor Pablo Remus Navarro urges, “We reiterate the recommendation to avoid leaving your homes. The clashes are occurring in several federal entities.” Travel warnings currently exist for Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, Guadalajara, Tamaulipas, Reynosa, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León.

Supporting protection and urgency, the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico reports, "Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the named locations should shelter in place until further notice.”

As we continue to work towards peace, security, justice, and well-being, let us keep Mexico, the U.S., and the surrounding areas in our thoughts and prayers.

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Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.