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In a significant operation on Sunday, Mexican forces confiscated rocket launchers capable of downing aircraft, highlighting the extensive military-grade arsenal amassed by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) over the years. This operation also resulted in the death of the cartel’s notorious leader, Ruben “Nemesio” Oseguera Cervantes, infamously known as “El Mencho.”
The CJNG has previously been implicated in a brazen 2015 incident in Jalisco, where cartel operatives used rocket-propelled grenades to successfully shoot down a Mexican military helicopter. This confrontation remains one of the most glaring instances of a cartel using advanced weaponry against federal forces.
The 2015 attack served as a pivotal moment, reshaping Mexican authorities’ understanding of the cartel’s formidable capabilities.
During the recent raid, officials reported that security forces were met with hostile fire, prompting them to retaliate. The operation employed both aircraft and specialized units, ultimately leading to the seizure of armored vehicles and heavy weaponry more typical of military engagements than standard police work.
Mexican authorities confirmed the death of Ruben “Nemesio” Oseguera Cervantes, or “El Mencho,” during the operation conducted in Jalisco on Sunday.
Mexican Special Forces, with aircraft assistance from the Air Force and National Guard rapid-reaction units, participated in the mission, highlighting the scale of force required to confront senior cartel leadership.
Former U.S. officials have described CJNG as operating more like a paramilitary organization than a traditional trafficking ring, using coordinated roadblocks, armed convoys and structured enforcement wings to assert control in contested regions.
In prior reporting, former Drug Enforcement Administration officials said the group commanded large numbers of gunmen and organized itself in a way that allowed it to deploy force quickly and visibly.
CJNG is known for its paramilitary-style operations and structure. (Eduardo Verdugo, File/AP Photo)
CJNG’s tactics have included seizing vehicles and staging coordinated attacks in urban areas to demonstrate strength and deter rivals or security forces.
Over time, such displays reinforced its reputation as one of Mexico’s most heavily armed criminal organizations.
Smoke rises into the sky over Puerto Vallarta during an operation targeting cartel activity on Feb. 22, 2026. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
The State Department issued a travel alert Sunday urging Americans in multiple Mexican states to shelter in place due to “ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity,” reflecting the instability that can follow major cartel confrontations.
In recent years, Mexican authorities have increasingly relied on military forces – rather than local police – to confront senior cartel figures as groups like CJNG expanded their reach and arsenals.
The raid that killed “El Mencho” marked not only the removal of a powerful drug lord but also another example of how heavily armed cartels can challenge state forces in direct confrontations.