Economist Podcasts Chapo, Mayo, Mencho: another Mexican kingpin falls
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Feb 25, 2026 
Ainslie Johnstone, a data journalist who studies large datasets, talks marathon training patterns. Arkady Ostrovsky, Russia editor and correspondent, recounts how four years of war reshaped daily life and the economy. Sarah Birke, Mexico City bureau chief and reporter, explains the capture of El Mencho and the likely surge in cartel violence. Short, topical conversations on running, Russia and Mexico.
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Kingpin Capture Risks Greater Violence
- Capturing El Mencho is a major coup but risks sparking more violence across Mexico.
- Sarah Birke explains the Jalisco New Generation cartel is highly diversified, brutal, and prone to fragmentation without its ruthless leader.
Cartel's Reach Extends Beyond Drugs
- The Jalisco New Generation cartel operates nationwide with vast diversification beyond drugs into fuel theft, extortion and fraud.
- Birke notes it can shoot down helicopters, use explosive drones, and is an amalgam of many affiliated groups kept in order by El Mencho's ruthlessness.
Stay Vigilant After A Kingpin Fall
- Mexico's government must stay alert and avoid assuming calm after the initial spike of violence.
- Birke says Sheinbaum boosted intelligence and professionalised security but faces US pressure and the danger of fragmentation-driven wars.