Mexico’s Defense Secretary announced that slain cartel leader “El Mencho” was located thanks to a meeting with his romantic partner, who is apparently Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo.
“On February 20, a man trusted by one of ”El Mencho’s” romantic partners was located and took her to a facility in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco. In that place, this sentimental couple met with “El Mencho”, and on February 21 they left the property and information was obtained that “El Mencho” would remain in that place. He stayed there with a security circle, and on February 21 the operation was planned,” said Secretary General of National Defense, General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo.
On February 22, the ground force arrived at the place where Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho”, was staying, who, seeing himself threatened, fled, hiding in the undergrowth.
“He and his close circle fled into a wooded area. This complex of cabins is on the outskirts of Tapalpa, next to a wooded area and that is where “El Mencho” and his close circle were headed. A siege is established, special forces personnel chase them, they locate him hiding in the undergrowth. They fire on the special forces personnel. The military personnel repelled the aggression. “El Mencho” was wounded along with two of his escorts and two more criminals were arrested,” he added.
After Mexican officials announced a powerful Mexican cartel leader was killed during a military operation on Sunday, several regions of the country are grappling with ongoing security risks and unrest.
Police officers secure the area where vehicles were set on fire by organized crime members to block a road following a military operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as “El Mencho,” was killed, in Zapopan, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026.
Guadalupe Moreno Carrillo’s identity gained public relevance after documents leaked by Guacamaya Leaks placed her as an indirect contributor to the tracking of the whereabouts of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco Cartel – New Generation (CJNG).
Although his personal history remains shrouded in opacity and the authorities have not confirmed that the sentimental meeting he had was with her, the reports released since October 2022 by the hacking of the National Defense Secretariat (Sedena) describe her as part of the criminal boss’ inner circle, especially after the arrest of his wife, Rosalinda González Valencia, for the second time in November 2021. According to the documents, it was after that arrest that the relationship between Moreno Carrillo and Oseguera Cervantes reportedly began.
Despite her appearance in several segments on the CJNG’s regional structure, the documents do not detail her specific roles in the organization, and so far there is no solid public data on her past or criminal record beyond what has been leaked. Authorities have not confirmed whether she was the one with whom the drug lord had his tryst before he was gunned down.
El Mencho dies on the way to receive medical attention
After being wounded, “El Mencho” was going to be transferred to a medical institution in Jalisco, however, he died on the way, so it was decided that his body would be brought to Mexico City.
“Once the situation was under control, the military health personnel went to the place where ”El Mencho” and his security circle and his two wounded escorts were. They determined that it was necessary to evacuate them, they were in very serious condition, and they requested the support of a helicopter to bring them down and transfer them to a medical institution in Jalisco,” said General Trevilla.
“Unfortunately, they died on the way, so it was decided at that moment that the helicopter would go to the international airport of Morelia, in Michoacán, where there was an Air Force fighter plane. They arrived there and were transferred to the fighter plane that was headed to Mexico City. This was decided, because it was no longer convenient to arrive in Guadalajara, above all, because of the risk that this Cartel group could run with more violent actions there in the capital of Jalisco,” added General Trevilla.
Regarding what the White House said, that the U.S. government collaborated with intelligence data in this operation, General Ricardo Trevilla did not deny it, he only assured that the exchange of information and intelligence data with the U.S. has been going on for a long time.
