An Engaging Introduction
Over the past decades, Mexico has witnessed a bloody struggle among major drug cartels that evolved from small trafficking groups into violent empires controlling large parts of the country and extending their networks across continents. At the head of these cartels, for more than 15 years, was Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” a leader unmatched in his brutality, until he was killed in February 2026 during a large-scale military operation. This article explores the story of the cartel’s founding, its rise, and the mysterious details of its leader’s life in a narrative and analytical manner based on reliable sources.
First: What Is the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)?
CJNG (an abbreviation for Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación) is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico and one of the most widespread in the world. Officially founded on August 31, 2009, in the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, it quickly transformed from a small offshoot of older cartels into a massive criminal organization with influence in more than 20 Mexican states and reported presence throughout the country, along with connections to international networks.
Reason for Its Founding and Origin of the Name
• The name refers to a “new generation” of leaders who sought to change the rules of the game in drug trafficking and move away from the traditional methods of older cartels that operated under long-established identities.
• The cartel emerged from the fragmentation and splintering of the Milenio Cartel following the arrest and killing of key leaders during the early years of the 21st century, creating an opportunity for new figures to establish a group built on strict violence and semi-military organization.
The Cartel’s Objectives from the MBeginning
They included a combination of:
• Controlling drug trafficking routes to the United States and Europe.
• Dominating the fentanyl and synthetic stimulant market, which generates billions of dollars annually.
• Expanding within Mexico and taking control of strategic regions along trafficking corridors.
Second: Who Is “El Mencho” – The Cartel Leader?
1. Early Life and Beginnings
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes was born on July 17, 1966, in a poor village in the Mexican state of Michoacán to a farming family. He did not complete primary school and began working in agriculture and guarding marijuana fields at an early age.
2. Journey to the United States
During the 1980s and 1990s, El Mencho migrated illegally to the United States in search of better opportunities. However, he soon became involved in drug trafficking and was arrested several times, including a case in Soledad, California, in 1992 when he was 26 years old. He was imprisoned on charges of heroin distribution, served his sentence, and was later deported to Mexico.
3. Return to Mexico and Entry into the Cartel World
After returning, El Mencho joined the Milenio Cartel, a network active in drug trafficking in Mexico and operating under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel at that time. Following the killing of one Milenio leader and the arrest of others, El Mencho’s influence within the organization grew significantly, and he became one of its prominent leaders.
4. His Rise to the Top
El Mencho formed strong alliances with other leaders such as Erick Valencia Salazar (“El 85”) and Martín Arzola Ortega. Together, they structured CJNG as a separate and independent organization by the end of the first decade of the millennium.
Third: How Did the Cartel Grow? – Violence, Organization, and Expansion
1. Organizational Structure
• CJNG operated like a small army equipped with heavy weapons and complex logistical networks controlling the trafficking of drugs and weapons.
• It adopted a franchise-like structure, where local cells were connected to a central leadership, allowing for rapid expansion across states.
2. Methods of Violence and Intimidation
The cartel relied on:
• Brutal methods to attract attention and instill fear, including mass killings, the use of explosives and drones, and even reports of extreme acts during the training of some members to reinforce terror.
• Military-style operations against Mexican security forces on several occasions, most notably in 2015 when CJNG fighters shot down a military helicopter during violent clashes.
3. Regional and International Expansion
By 2018–2025, the cartel had spread to nearly all Mexican states and extended its presence to countries in Latin America, Europe, and Africa, with networks reaching the United States and Australia through trafficking operations.
Fourth: CJNG’s Rise as a Global Cartel
1. Rivalry with the Sinaloa Cartel
CJNG quickly became the strongest rival to the cartel that had dominated Mexico’s drug trade for decades—the Sinaloa Cartel—leading to a bloody war between them over control of trafficking routes and international markets.
2. Non-Traditional Economic Activities
In addition to drug trafficking, CJNG expanded into:
• Fuel theft and resale on black markets.
• Extortion and sophisticated money laundering through agricultural and real estate companies.
• Financial fraud operations, human trafficking, and other forms of organized crime.
Fifth: A Mark of Presence – How CJNG Affected Mexican Society
1. Recruitment Through Coercion and Deception
The cartel lured citizens with fake job advertisements on social media platforms and then forced them to join its ranks. Those who resisted faced severe violence.
2. Spread of Fear and Destruction
The cartel used violence not only to terrorize rivals but also to subdue local populations, including mass killings, intimidation campaigns, and acts of terror.
3. Impact of the War on the State
Clashes between the cartel and government forces led to states of emergency, disruptions to daily life, and the closure of schools and markets in multiple regions, making security alerts a constant part of residents’ lives.
Sixth: The Sudden End – The Killing of “El Mencho” in 2026
On February 22, 2026, the Mexican armed forces announced the killing of El Mencho during a military operation in the state of Jalisco, after more than 15 years at the peak of organized crime leadership.
Reactions and Consequences
• Waves of violence erupted in several states in response to his death, as cartel members blocked roads and set vehicles on fire in an attempt to demonstrate strength.
• Analysts estimate the possibility of internal conflict within CJNG following the loss of its leader, as well as a struggle for leadership among his associates and regional commanders.
Conclusion
The story of CJNG and El Mencho is one of the most shocking narratives in modern organized crime: from humble origins in the fields of Michoacán to leading one of the most dangerous drug cartels in the world. Through systematic violence, strategic expansion, and semi-military organization, the cartel became an international player. With the death of its leader in 2026, the question remains open: will the tree of violence finally break, or will its roots continue to grow beneath the surface?