LJ discusses the death of El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), on February 22nd, 2026, and the immediate, widespread violent retaliation across Mexico.
Here's a breakdown of the key points:
- El Mencho's Background (1:08-1:38): Born in 1960, he was a former police officer who transitioned into drug trafficking. After being deported from the U.S. in the 1990s for heroin trafficking, he rose through the ranks of the Millennial Cartel before forming the CJNG around 2010.
- The Millennial Cartel and Its Collapse (1:39-3:16): This cartel, also known as the Valencia Cartel, specialized in methamphetamine production and trafficking. They operated as a regional partner within the Sinaloa Cartel's structure. The Millennial Cartel fractured after Mexican authorities targeted its leadership and a key Sinaloa Cartel lieutenant, Ignacio Coronel Vil, was killed in 2010. El Mencho's faction then split off.
- The Rise of Los Zetas and CJNG's Response (3:32-6:40): The video explains the formation of Los Zetas, a militarized group that originated as the enforcement wing of the Gulf Cartel. Los Zetas became notorious for their brutal tactics. El Mencho's faction, rebranding as Los Mata Zetas (The Zeta Killers), positioned themselves as a "cleanup crew" in Veracruz to combat Los Zetas's brutality, gaining recruits and justifying their violence. This group eventually evolved into the CJNG.
- CJNG's Expansion and Operations (6:41-11:57): Under El Mencho, CJNG rapidly expanded, becoming Mexico's fastest-growing criminal organization. They aggressively seized territory, confronted state forces, and adopted a highly militarized image. They controlled the port of Manzanillo (9:58), a crucial entry point for precursor chemicals for synthetic drugs. CJNG heavily invested in methamphetamine (10:12) and later fentanyl (10:29) production, becoming a primary source of these drugs in the U.S.
- Transnational Reach and Propaganda (11:06-12:19): CJNG built distribution networks within the U.S. and was responsible for a significant portion of narcotics smuggled across the U.S. southern border. They also released propaganda videos showcasing their military-grade weaponry and uniformed gunmen to intimidate rivals and attract recruits.
- El Mencho's Capture and Immediate Aftermath (12:20-15:01): Acting on U.S. intelligence, Mexican special forces launched an operation on February 22nd, 2026, in Talpa, leading to a firefight where El Mencho was fatally shot. His death immediately triggered widespread retaliation from CJNG, including highway blockades with burning vehicles (13:22), arson in cities like Guadalajara (13:39), and attacks on authorities.
- Future Implications (15:02-19:20): El Mencho's death creates a dangerous power vacuum (15:23) within CJNG. With no clear successor and many of his family members neutralized, the cartel's cohesion is expected to break, leading to splintering into factions and increased infighting. Rival cartels, especially Sinaloa Cartel factions, are likely to exploit this weakness. The video emphasizes that kingpin deaths often lead to more violence and instability, affecting not only Mexico but also the U.S. through the fentanyl crisis (18:32), migration patterns (18:53), and strained international relations (18:54).