politics
February 24, 2026
Who was El Mencho, one of the world's most wanted drug lords who emerged from rural Mexico?
During his command, the organization was noted for massacres, ambushes of authorities, and coordinated blockades in different entities of the country, and was characterized by its rapid territorial expansion.
TL;DR
- El Mencho, born in 1966 in Aguililla, Michoacán, rose from a rural background to become a powerful drug lord.
- He was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which expanded rapidly throughout Mexico and internationally.
- The CJNG was known for extreme violence, massacres, ambushes on authorities, and international trafficking of methamphetamines and fentanyl.
- Notable incidents attributed to El Mencho include an assassination attempt on Omar García Harfuch and the downing of a military helicopter.
- The U.S. Department of State offered up to $15 million for information leading to his capture.
- El Mencho was killed in a federal operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, sparking regional violence.
- His death is considered a major blow to drug trafficking, comparable to the capture of 'El Chapo' Guzmán.