Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the Mexican drug lord known as El Mencho and head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, died on February 22, 2026, at age 59.
He led the Jalisco-based criminal organization from its rise after several of his bosses were arrested or killed, and was wanted in both Mexico and the United States at the time of his death. Authorities had offered rewards of up to US$15 million and MXN$300 million for information leading to his arrest.
Born in Aguililla, Michoacán, he was active in organized crime from 1986 until 2026.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes (17 July 1966 – 22 February 2026), commonly referred to by his alias “El Mencho”, was a Mexican drug lord and head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), an organized crime group based in Jalisco. He was the most wanted person in Mexico and one of the most wanted in the United States at the time of his death. The U.S. government and the Mexican government were offering rewards of up to US$15 million and MXN$300 million, respectively, for information leading to his arrest.