Mexican Cartels’ Violent Turf Wars Escalate After ‘El Mencho’s’ Death

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The Mexican Army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict involving drug cartels in Mexico. Following his death, violence surged across Mexico, with the cartel’s aggressive tactics and operations continuing to pose significant challenges for authorities. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, formed in 2009, has been noted for its pioneering use of explosives launched from drones and its violent territorial disputes.

In the aftermath of the assassination of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the Mexican National Guard has increased patrols in areas of conflict related to cartel activity, as reported on February 22, 2026. According to various reports, the CJNG has been known for its aggressive tactics and violent confrontations with military forces, employing advanced methods such as launching explosives from drones. The group, which has been responsible for numerous high-profile assassinations and violent acts against both politicians and civilians, has escalated its turf wars in response to internal and external pressures.

Following the assassination of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the Mexican National Guard is actively patrolling areas affected by the surge in cartel violence. This increase in violence has placed the operations of various cartels back in the global spotlight. The recent turmoil highlights the ongoing power struggles among criminal organisations in Mexico.

What we know so far

What do we know about Mexico’s most feared cartels? | News World

National Guards patrol the area outside of the General Prosecutor's headquarters in Mexico City, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, after authorities reported that the Mexican Army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as
The Mexican National Guard is working to fight the cartels (Picture: AP)

Cartels are dotted across Mexico, fighting turf wars and for control of drug supply – from the Sinaloa to the Gulf, here’s what to know.

The operations of cartels have fascinated and disgusted millions across the globe, with high-profile kingpins like El Chapo and Pablo Escobar sparking shows like Narcos.

The drama series, however, reflects the real goings-on of the world’s deadliest organised crime gangs in Latin America.

The recent influx of violence across Mexico after the death of drug lord ‘El Mencho’ has brought cartels back into the global spotlight.

Here’s all to know about the largest and most dangerous criminal organisations in the world.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel

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The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is becoming one of Mexico’s most powerful (Picture: Reuters)

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel has hit headlines this week after its leader, Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, was assassinated.

Formed in 2009, the CJNG has become known for its aggressive tactics and attacks on the military, including on helicopters.

The heavily armed group became pioneers in launching explosives from drones and installing mines in turf wars.

In 2009, battles within another cartel – the Milenio – fractured the heart of the organisation and led to two factions being formed: the ‘Resistencia’ and the ‘Torcidos’, or ‘Twisted Ones’.

The latter of the two eventually became what is now known as the CJNG, led by former police officer El Mencho until his death this week.

In the wake of the cartel’s creation, violence increased in Jalisco, Mexico, where the organisation operates from.

Forced disappearances, murders in broad daylight and mass graves became common as the cartel fought to defend its ‘turf’ and protect drug supplies.

CJNG has made multiple attempts to assassinate high-profile politicians, including Luis Carlos Najera and Omar Garcia Harfuch. Journalists have also been killed.

The Sinaloa Cartel

TOPSHOT - Mexican drug trafficker Joaquin Guzman Loera aka
El Chapo was captured for good in 2019 (Picture: AFP)

Arguably Mexico’s most infamous cartel, the Sinaloa was founded in the late 1980s by Joaquín Guzmán, known as El Chapo.

In 2019, he was sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison in the United States, but the organisation he founded persists in Mexico.

The Sinaloa Cartel is the largest illegal drugs supplier to the United States, and is known for kidnappings and forced disappearances.

In recent years, Guzman’s sons have led a faction of the cartel known as the little Chapos, or ‘Chapitos’, that has been identified as a main exporter of fentanyl to the US market.

The gang’s territory is also along the border with the United States, giving it prime spots to traffic drugs, which has helped it grow.

The cartel defends its interests in extreme ways. They kidnap, torture, execute enemies and hide their bodies in dozens of mass graves that are dotted around their territory.

In April 2011, Mexican officials unearthed more than 450 bodies buried in mass graves in northern states.

The Gulf Cartel

Grab of cartel speaking to group
The Gulf Cartel is one of Mexico’s oldest (Picture: X)

The Gulf Cartel’s roots can be traced back to the 1930s, before exploding in the 1980s cocaine boom.

Within just ten years, the group, formed by Juan García Abrego, was making billions each year. Their territories are based in the north-east of Mexico, in Tamaulipas.

In addition to cocaine, heroin, fetanyl and marijuana smuggling, the group is known for migrant smuggling and forced disappearances.

Abrego was arrested in 1996, and his heir, Osiel Cardenas Guillen, was also imprisoned.

Then, in 2010, Guillen’s brother, Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen, took over before being killed by Mexican troops in a shootout.

Since then, the group has been at war with itself – along with other enemy cartels, like the Los Zetas – a paramilitary group which splintered from the Gulf Cartel and grew to become one of the country’s most dangerous.

Los Zetas Cartel

A soldier stands guard by a charred vehicle after it was set on fire, in Cointzio, Michoacan state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, following the death of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Oseguera, known as
The Los Zetas cartel is known for dissolving their victims in acid (Picture: AP)

The Los Zetas cartel is a spin-off of the Gulf Cartel, having formed in 2010 after the leadership of the Gulf was killed.

The group is infamous for decapitations, as well as kidnapping, torture and drug smuggling.

Unlike their counterparts, the Los Zetas don’t just focus on drug smuggling – they traffic illicit tobacco and humans.

They are based in the Northeast as well, in the Tamaulipas region, and are at war with the Gulf Cartel to this day.

In 2013, the then-leader of the Los Zetas, Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, was captured by US forces.

Known as Z-40, he shipped large quantities of cocaine and cannabis into the US every week. He is also accused of slaughtering hundreds of migrants.

Trevino Morales often left the bodies of victims hanging from bridges as a warning to rivals. He regularly beat victims with wooden planks. Others were ‘stewed’ alive in 210-litre tanks.

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