El Mencho: The Shadowy Rise and Fall of CJNG Leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervante

El Mencho, whose real name was Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico's most violent criminal organizations, until his death on February 22, 2026, in a military operation. Born into poverty in Michoacán on July 17, 1966, he dropped out of school early, grew avocados, and later immigrated illegally to the U.S. before deportation in the early 1990s. His criminal path began with the Milenio Cartel, where he married into the powerful Valencia family to solidify ties.

Early Life and Entry into Crime
Oseguera worked briefly as a police officer in Jalisco after deportation but soon joined organized crime full-time with the Milenio Cartel. He started in assassin squads protecting drug lords and relocated to Guadalajara amid rival attacks by Los Zetas. There, he allied with the Sinaloa Cartel's Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel, managing drug operations, finances, and murders in Colima and Jalisco.

Through betrayals, like reportedly aiding the 2009 arrest of a Milenio boss, he rose quickly and formed Los Torcidos, a splinter group that evolved into CJNG around 2010. Unlike traditional cartels, CJNG under El Mencho expanded beyond drugs into extortion, using extreme violence and propaganda like "Los Mata Zetas" videos to legitimize their presence.

Leadership of CJNG and Reign of Terror
El Mencho transformed CJNG into a decentralized, franchise-like empire, corrupting officials, recruiting elite students, and dominating methamphetamine production. Known for theatrical brutality—public executions, assassinations of officials, and military-grade attacks—his group clashed with rivals and authorities across Mexico. He built social influence in Jalisco through festivals, aid during crises, and narco-banners, blending fear with community support.

Despite a $10 million U.S. bounty and constant manhunts, El Mencho evaded capture for years, never serving time in a Mexican prison. His discreet style contrasted with flashy peers, relying on violence over ostentation while expanding nationwide.

Death and Aftermath
Mexican security forces, aided by U.S. intelligence, killed El Mencho on February 22, 2026, sparking retaliatory violence nationwide. His demise weakened CJNG temporarily but highlighted the cartel's enduring power and the challenges in Mexico's drug war. El Mencho's legacy mixes mythic status in narco-culture with profound community devastation from cartel wars.