Reporting by Channels TV indicates that a major international security development has occurred with the death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The 59-year-old drug lord was killed during a high-stakes operation by the Mexican army in the town of Tapalpa. The mission, which sparked a wave of retaliatory violence across Jalisco state, ended when Oseguera succumbed to injuries while being airlifted to Mexico City.
The death of “El Mencho,” who had a $15 million bounty on his head from the United States, is expected to cause significant shifts in global narcotics trafficking routes. In response to the raid, cartel members set buses on fire and blocked major avenues in an attempt to thwart military movements. While the event occurred in Mexico, the implications are being felt globally due to the cartel’s extensive reach into West Africa and Europe.
Vanguard validated the international significance of the story, noting that “security agencies in Nigeria are on high alert for any disruptions in the illicit drug supply chains often linked to Mexican cartels.” Daily Post also reported on the eruption of violence, quoting a Mexican military spokesperson who said, “this operation is a decisive blow against organized crime that has plagued our borders.” Both sources highlighted the potential for a bloody power vacuum within the CJNG.
Echotitbits take:
While distant, the fall of a cartel leader like El Mencho affects Nigeria because the CJNG has been increasingly linked to the “cocaine bridge” through West Africa. A leadership vacuum in Mexico often leads to more aggressive and unpredictable behavior from local franchises. Watch for increased surveillance by the NDLEA at Nigerian ports and borders as international drug routes readjust.
Source: Edition – https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/mexico-el-mencho-killed-travel-chaos-02-23-26-intl-hnk, February 23, 2026
Photo credit: Edition
