NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
The Mexican military seized rocket launchers capable of firing at planes during an operation on Sunday that killed cartel boss Ruben “Nemesio” Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” underscoring how Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) amassed military explosives years ago.
Authorities have linked the CJNG to a 2015 attack in Jalisco in which tank gunmen used rocket-propelled grenades to shoot down a Mexican military helicopter — one of the most prominent examples of a tank engaging directly with federal forces with military-grade weapons.
The attack marked a turning point in the way Mexican authorities viewed the group’s capabilities.
During the raid on Sunday, officials said the security forces were attacked and retaliated with fire, sending aircraft and special forces to carry out the operation. Authorities said the military seized armored vehicles and heavy weapons, tools more commonly associated with weapons than ordinary weapons.
VISITORS IN MEXICAN SEASIDE CITY TELL TO STAY IN PLACES AS GOVERNMENT WARNS ABOUT ‘CONTACT’
Ruben “Nemesio” Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was killed during a Mexican operation in Jalisco on Sunday. (Drug Management)
Mexican Special Forces, with air support from the Air Force and the rapid response National Guard, took part in the campaign, highlighting the level of force needed to deal with the leadership of the top companies.
Former US officials have described the CJNG as operating more like a military organization than a traditional smuggling ring, using coordinated roadblocks, armed convoys and organized enforcement wings to seize control of contested areas.
In an earlier report, the former Drug Enforcement Administration officials said the group commanded dozens of gunmen and organized themselves in a way that allowed them to use force quickly and visibly.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FILES MULTI-STATE CHARGES AGAINST TREN DE ARAGUA LEADERS FOR NOTORIOUS CRIME
The CJNG is known for its paramilitary style operations and structure. (Eduardo Verdugo, File/AP Photo)
CJNG tactics have included carjacking and planned attacks on urban areas to demonstrate power and deter rival or security forces.
Over time, such demonstrations cemented its reputation as one of Mexico’s most armed criminal organizations.
ALLEGED SINALOA CARTEL FENTANYL MANUFACTURER IDENTIFIED IN NEW FEDERAL COVERS
Smoke rises into the sky over Puerto Vallarta during a cartel-targeted operation on Feb. 22, 2026. (Sourced by Fox News Digital)
The State Department issued a travel warning on Sunday urging Americans in several Mexican states to take shelter because of “ongoing security operations and roadblocks and criminal activity,” indicating the instability that could follow major conflicts.
In recent years, Mexican authorities have relied more on the military — rather than local police — to deal with high cartel numbers as groups like the CJNG expand their reach and weapons.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
The attack that killed “El Mencho” marked not only the removal of a powerful drug kingpin but also another example of how heavily armed cartels can challenge state forces in a direct confrontation.
