politics
February 24, 2026
U.S. Information, a Romantic Partner, and a Forest: The Operation Against El Mencho
According to Mexican Secretary of Defense General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, the operation against El Mencho occurred after joint intelligence work between Mexican and U.S. agencies.
TL;DR
- The operation against 'El Mencho' was a result of complex intelligence work involving U.S. information.
- El Mencho was located on a property in Tapalpa, Jalisco, identified through the surveillance of his romantic partner.
- The military operation involved a significant deployment with air support and resulted in a violent exchange of gunfire.
- After the initial confrontation, El Mencho and his security detail fled into a wooded area but were eventually cornered.
- El Mencho died from his wounds on a military plane before arriving at a hospital.
- The operation recovered numerous weapons, including Russian-designed RPGs.
- The Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) officially confirmed El Mencho's death after forensic analysis.