White House Confirms Assistance In Cartel Strike

The White House with the American flag flying against a blue sky

Mexican special forces killed drug lord El Mencho in a daring raid, but what chaos will erupt now that America’s top fentanyl kingpin lies dead?

Story Snapshot

U.S. intelligence directly supported Mexico’s raid that eliminated CJNG leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes on February 22, 2026.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed the collaboration, hailing it as a major blow to fentanyl trafficking.
Immediate cartel retaliation included road blockades, burning vehicles, and clashes across multiple Mexican states.
Trump’s 2025 terrorist designation of CJNG paved the way for this unprecedented U.S.-Mexico intel-sharing success.
Three Mexican soldiers wounded; potential leadership vacuum threatens more violence.

Raid Details in Tapalpa, Jalisco

Mexican Special Forces launched the operation on February 22, 2026, in Tapalpa, Jalisco. Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes died alongside three to six cartel members. Two others faced arrest, while three cartel members suffered wounds, some fatal during transfer. Three Mexican soldiers sustained injuries. The raid targeted the heart of CJNG territory, showcasing precision amid rugged terrain.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt announced U.S. intelligence provided complementary support that same day via X. Mexico’s Defense Ministry confirmed the collaboration on February 23. This marked rare public acknowledgment, contrasting Mexico’s past reluctance to highlight U.S. roles. Facts align with conservative priorities: strong borders demand decisive action against narcoterrorists poisoning American communities.

El Mencho’s Rise and Evasion

CJNG splintered from the Milenio Cartel around 2010 under El Mencho’s leadership, born circa 1966. The group dominated fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin flows into the U.S., fueling over 70,000 annual overdose deaths. El Mencho dodged capture for decades despite a DEA $15 million bounty announced in December 2024. His operations generated billions, terrorizing regions with unmatched brutality.

Pre-raid strikes weakened CJNG. In September 2024, U.S. courts sentenced El Mencho’s son, Rubén Oseguera González (“El Menchito”), to life. August 2025 saw Mexico extradite financial chief Abigael González (“El Cuini”). September 2025 brought DEA arrests of 670 alleged members. Trump’s early 2025 executive order designated CJNG terrorists, intensifying pressure on Mexico.

Key Players and Bilateral Dynamics

President Donald Trump drove policy, designating CJNG terrorists and urging Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for action. Leavitt messaged U.S. support; Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau called it a “great development.” Mexico’s Omar García Harfuch thanked forces; Sheinbaum stressed coordination and calm. DEA and intel agencies supplied critical data without boots on ground.

U.S. motivations centered on fentanyl reduction and border security optics. Mexico balanced sovereignty with alliance benefits, shifting from prior AMLO tensions. CJNG retaliated immediately, blockading roads and igniting clashes in Tamaulipas, Michoacán, and Nayarit. By February 23, Army and National Guard reinforcements contained outbreaks, but succession battles loomed.

Immediate Fallout and Future Risks

Short-term chaos hit CJNG zones: civilians endured blockades and firefights; soldiers held lines. Fentanyl shipments disrupted temporarily, offering U.S. overdose relief. Long-term, CJNG’s power erodes, pressuring rivals like Sinaloa while enabling asset freezes via terrorist labels. Yet leadership voids often spark infighting, escalating violence.

Political wins boosted Trump and Sheinbaum images, validating intel-sharing precedents over past scandals like Fast and Furious. Economic hits to billions in trafficking underscore gains. Common sense dictates sustained pressure: half-measures fail against cartels preying on American families. Will successors fill El Mencho’s void, or fracture the empire?