Mexico defence minister details military operation that killed drug lord El Mencho

Record ID: 2343642

  • Title: Mexico defence minister details military operation that killed drug lord El Mencho
  • Date: 23rd February 2026
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 23, 2026) (REUTERS) REPORTERS AT MEXICAN PRESIDENT CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM'S MORNING NEWS CONFERENCE SHEINBAUM ARRIVING AT HER MORNING NEWS CONFERENCE WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN DEFENCE MINISTER, RICARDO TREVILLA, SAYING:  "Through military intelligence work, we located a trusted person of one of El Mencho's romantic partners who tran
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Defense minister Mencho Mexico Sheinbaum Violence
  • Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
  • City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,South America / Central America,North America
  • Reuters ID: LVA001787123022026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Mexico's Defence Minister Ricardo Trevilla said on Monday (February 23) military intelligence tracked down drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," through a romantic partner who led authorities to his location in Tapalpa, Jalisco. 
         Trevilla said special forces deployed on February 22 to arrest Oseguera, who had warrants for organised crime, but his security personnel opened fire on military troops in what the minister described as a very violent attack. 
        El Mencho and his inner circle fled into a wooded area where they were pursued by special forces and located hiding in brush. The cartel leader and his bodyguards opened fire again and were wounded in the exchange, prompting military medical personnel to evacuate them by helicopter to a medical facility, but they died en route, according to Trevilla. 
        The operation triggered widespread violence across Mexico with 27 attacks against authorities in Jalisco alone and road blockades and vehicle burnings in multiple states. 
        (Production: Dessire Carrion, Hugo Monnet)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register