Opinion | Badge To Blood Empire: How A Cop Became A Cartel Boss

Dr G Shreekumar Menon

Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, 59, died in custody after being injured in the military operation by Mexican special forces, along with at least six alleged accomplices

What an amazing job transition, from a police officer to a drug lord, who led a cartel known for aggression and a military-style arsenal. Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the police officer, transformed into the drug lord “El Mencho", and controlled a vast criminal organisation, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), responsible for trafficking huge quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the US. He was killed on 22 February 2026, Sunday, by Mexican special forces.

The CJNG is a household name in Mexico, where it is known for its displays of ultraviolence and its big, military-style arsenal. The Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, or CJNG, as it is known in Spanish, was formed around 2010-2011 from the remnants of the Sinaloa cartel-affiliated Milenio cartel. The cartel, based in the state of Jalisco, has been one of the most aggressive in its attacks on the military—including on helicopters—and is regarded as a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and installing mines. They possessed huge amounts of money, the latest generation weapons, military-style paramilitary groups, and vehicles.

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