February 23, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel
Mexico has fired back at claims that the United States led the operation that killed notorious cartel boss Rubén “N,” alias Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho.
The Embassy of Mexico in the U.S. described social media reports, including posts by right-wing activist Laura Loomer, as “false,” stressing that Mexican Special Forces carried out the mission independently in Tapalpa, Jalisco. While U.S. authorities offered intelligence support, operational control remained firmly with Mexican forces.
Loomer had warned that CJNG gunmen were retaliating, allegedly taking American tourists hostage near Guadalajara Airport. Mexican officials, while denying foreign-led involvement, confirmed rising tensions and violence in western Mexico in recent days.
To contain potential reprisals, the Mexican Army and National Guard have been deployed across Jalisco and neighboring states, reinforcing security and reopening disrupted roads.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, under El Mencho, is among Mexico’s deadliest criminal organizations, blamed for mass fentanyl trafficking and violent attacks that stretch across Mexico and into the United States.
The operation marks a significant blow to the CJNG but raises fears of violent backlash in Mexico’s west, putting both locals and foreign visitors on high alert.
