According to a new report from CBS News, a specialized Pentagon task force played a critical role in the Mexican military operation that resulted in the death of CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
The operation, which decapitated Mexico’s most powerful and violent cartel, has triggered a massive wave of retaliatory violence across western Mexico, including a brazen ambush on a Mexican National Guard convoy.
The Pentagon Connection
While the Mexican government has maintained that the fatal raid in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, was conducted by its own armed forces, U.S. defense sources told CBS that a Pentagon unit provided vital intelligence and operational support.
This involvement likely points to the recently established Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel (JIATF-CC), a U.S. Northern Command initiative launched last month specifically to detect and dismantle cartel networks. The joint operation highlights the Trump administration’s escalating, militarized approach to combating Mexican drug syndicates, which it recently designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
“Narco-Blockades” and Open Warfare
The death of El Mencho—who carried a $15 million U.S. bounty and oversaw the trafficking of massive quantities of fentanyl into the United States—sparked an immediate and explosive response from his loyalists.
Shortly after the raid, heavily armed CJNG militants ambushed a Mexican National Guard convoy deployed to secure the region, resulting in a fierce firefight as security forces scrambled to repel the attack.
Simultaneously, cartel members initiated their standard protocol for military disruption. Across Guadalajara and neighboring municipalities, militants hijacked buses and cars, setting them ablaze to create fiery “narco-blockades.” These barricades are strategically designed to stall federal reinforcements and spread terror throughout the civilian population.
Tourists Trapped and Flights Suspended
The violence has rapidly encroached on popular tourist destinations, prompting international panic. Plumes of smoke were reported near the airport in Puerto Vallarta, causing travelers to sprint through the terminals seeking cover.
In response to the deteriorating security environment:
* Airlines: Air Canada and other major carriers have suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta due to the “ongoing security situation,” advising passengers to stay away from the airport.
* U.S. Embassy: A strict “shelter-in-place” order has been issued for American citizens across Jalisco, Michoacan, Tamaulipas, and several other states. The Embassy advised citizens to avoid all areas with law enforcement activity, monitor local media, and minimize unnecessary movement.
As smoke clears from the initial clashes, Mexican federal forces are continuing their sweeping operations against the remnants of the CJNG command structure, bracing for further retaliation.
