Mexican Cartel Leader 'El Mencho' Killed in Joint Operation

Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the feared leader of a dominant Mexican drug cartel, has been killed in a Mexican special forces operation backed by U.S. intelligence. The high-profile takedown, announced on February 23, 2026, marks a significant victory for both the Trump administration and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who faced mounting pressure to act decisively against cartel violence. Yet, history casts doubt on whether this will yield lasting results. The so-called 'kingpin