Sheinbaum Highlights U.S. Collaboration in Operation Against El Mencho
Posted on02/24/26 at 11:31
- Mexico-United States cooperation emphasized
- Operation against El Mencho
- Key intelligence exchange
According to EFE, Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, underscored collaboration with the United States in the operation that ended with the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.”
The president emphasized that the intelligence exchange took place under principles of respect for national sovereignty.
The operation occurred Sunday in Guadalajara, capital of the state of Jalisco.
Mexico-United States Cooperation With Respect for Sovereignty
▶️ “The entire operation is the responsibility of federal forces”: Sheinbaum on the operation in which ‘El Mencho’ died; she assures that collaboration with the U.S. is based on intelligence sharing.
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— Milenio (@Milenio) February 23, 2026
Sheinbaum explained that there is a constant flow of information between both countries on security matters.
“There is information that is shared; in fact, it is information that the United States provides to us, and we also provide information to the United States, and respect for our sovereignty has always been maintained and was maintained yesterday,” she said during her morning press conference.
The president stated that communication with Washington is ongoing.
She indicated that this cooperation is governed by agreements established between both governments.
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She also clarified that the joint work focuses on information and intelligence.
The operation that concluded with the death of the leader of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación relied in part on data provided by U.S. authorities.
However, the Mexican government maintained that the action was carried out within the framework of agreed bilateral principles, reinforcing the importance of cooperation between Mexico and the United States.
Details of the Intelligence Exchange
The Secretary of National Defense, General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, stated that collaboration with U.S. authorities has strengthened during the current administration.
“It is a very important flow of information. And that is how we arrived at this specific case,” the military chief said regarding the operation against El Mencho.
Trevilla Trejo specified that the initial location of the target was the result of Mexican military intelligence.
However, he acknowledged that there was also information provided by the United States.
The official shared figures related to security actions carried out under the current government.
He reported that 23,000 firearms have been confiscated.
Of those, 80% are of U.S. origin.
More than 320 tons of drugs have also been seized.
Additionally, more than 2,000 clandestine laboratories have been dismantled.
Context of the Operation and Accusations
Washington had accused El Mencho of leading a “reign of terror” in Mexico.
U.S. authorities also blamed him for destroying “countless lives” through fentanyl trafficking.
They had offered up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
Under his leadership, the CJNG expanded its presence across Mexico.
The group strengthened drug trafficking routes, including those linked to fentanyl shipments into the United States.
That expansion placed him among the most wanted drug traffickers in both countries.
The Mexican government reiterated that Mexico-United States security cooperation will continue within the framework of established bilateral principles.
Meanwhile, security forces remain deployed following the weekend events in Jalisco.
The operation and its aftermath unfold in a broader context of bilateral intelligence collaboration and coordinated efforts to combat organized crime.