State of the World from NPR A wave of violence in Mexico after a drug lord is killed
Feb 23, 2026
Ader Peralta, Mexico correspondent reporting from Guadalajara, gives on-the-ground accounts of the chaos after the Jalisco New Generation leader El Mencho was killed. He describes streets emptied and businesses closed, the raid and firefight that led to the killing, and the political fallout as the government stakes its claim against powerful cartels.
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Killing Of El Mencho Triggered Deadly Military Raid
- Mexico's military killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, El Mencho, after a fierce raid that left dozens dead including 25 National Guard members.
- The operation targeted a cabin via intelligence about a romantic partner and ended with El Mencho dying while being air-transported.
Immediate Retaliation And Citywide Disruption
- After the operation, widespread retaliation erupted: armed men set fire to banks, businesses, and vehicles across affected cities like Guadalajara.
- Schools closed, people sheltered indoors, and the airport canceled flights leaving travelers stranded overnight.
Zoo Became Shelter During Violence Night
- About a thousand people spent the night at Guadalajara's zoo to avoid the streets during the violence.
- The zoo director kept kids busy with feedings and cable car rides so they wouldn't notice the chaos outside.