Authorities have issued an update after cartel boss El Mencho was killed in Mexico.
Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known to the world as ‘El Mencho,’ was one of the most feared and powerful drug lords in modern history, per the BBC.
Born 59 years ago, he was reportedly a former police officer who eventually crossed to the other side of the law, trading his badge for a criminal empire that would come to rival the Sinaloa Cartel in reach, violence, and influence.
In 2009, El Mencho founded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known in Spanish as the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, or CJNG.
What began as a regional criminal operation rapidly evolved into one of Mexico’s most violent and well-organized transnational drug trafficking organizations.
El Mencho
Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known to the world as ‘El Mencho,’ was one of the most feared and powerful drug lords in modern history. Credit: SFPD
Under his command, the CJNG expanded across Mexico and into international markets, becoming a dominant force in the trafficking of c**caine, h**ion, m***amphetamine, and, in recent years, f***anyl, the synthetic opioid at the center of a devastating public health crisis in the United States.
El Mencho’s notoriety extended far beyond Mexico’s borders. The US Drug Enforcement Administration considered him one of the world’s top drug trafficking targets, and the US State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture.
Since 2017, he faced multiple indictments in US federal court, including charges of conspiracy, drug distribution, and firearm use in trafficking, and was also charged under the Drug Kingpin Statute for operating a continuing criminal enterprise.
A reign of terror
Under El Mencho’s leadership, the CJNG became synonymous with extreme violence, the The Independent reports.
The cartel was implicated in numerous homicides targeting rival criminal groups and Mexican law enforcement officers, as well as alleged assassination attempts on senior government officials.
In recognition of the threat it posed, the Trump administration designated the CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a classification typically reserved for international jihadist groups.
El Mencho built around him a close inner circle of family members who managed the cartel’s sprawling operations.
Donald Trump
The White House has issued an update after cartel boss El Mencho was killed in Mexico. Credit: Alamy
His son, Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez – ‘El Menchito’ – served as the CJNG’s second-in-command for nearly seven years, allegedly ordering the murder of more than 100 people before being sentenced in the US to life in prison plus 30 years in March 2025.
His brother-in-law led Los Cuinis, the cartel’s financial arm, while even his wife was arrested by Mexican authorities in 2021 on allegations of serving as a financial operator for the organization.
The cartel’s most consequential activity in recent years has been flooding the United States with fentanyl.
US authorities described El Menchito as ‘one of the first contributors to the fentanyl epidemic in the United States,’ a grim distinction that speaks to the deadly toll the CJNG’s operations have exacted on American communities.
The ‘operation’
On Sunday, February 22, 2026, Mexican Army Special Forces, supported by Air Force aircraft and the National Guard’s Immediate Reaction Force, launched a raid targeting El Mencho in the town of Tapalpa, in the western state of Jalisco.
Mexico’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the operation was intelligence-led, with additional support provided by the United States government.
As troops moved in, El Mencho’s bodyguards opened fire. Military personnel returned fire in self-defense, killing four cartel members at the scene, wounding three others, including El Mencho himself, and taking two into custody.
Weapons seized included rocket launchers capable of bringing down aircraft or destroying armored vehicles.
Seriously wounded in the firefight, El Mencho did not survive the journey to the hospital.
El Mencho
El Mencho died while being airlifted from Tapalpa to Mexico City. Credit: DEA
He died while being airlifted from Tapalpa to Mexico City. At least six of his security guards were also killed in the operation, while three Mexican military personnel sustained injuries.
Mike Vigil, former chief of international operations for the DEA, described it to CBS as ‘one of the most significant actions undertaken in the history of drug trafficking.’
Violence erupts across Mexico
News of El Mencho’s death spread rapidly, and so did the cartel’s fury.
Within hours, CJNG members launched coordinated retaliatory attacks across an estimated 20 Mexican states, CNN reports.
Cartel members blockaded roads with spikes and nails, commandeered and torched buses in the middle of streets, and set fire to dozens of banks and local businesses. More than 250 separate incidents of road blockages were reported.
Among the hardest-hit areas was Puerto Vallarta, the Pacific coast resort popular with international tourists. Plumes of black smoke billowed from burning vehicles across multiple neighborhoods, prompting local authorities to order everyone to shelter in place.
El Mencho
El Mencho was the most wanted person in Mexico. Credit: DEA
Airlines including Air Canada, United, Aeromexico, and American suspended flights to the region, leaving around 300 visitors stranded at the airport, who were ultimately evacuated to the city center under heavy police escort.
In Guadalajara, a FIFA World Cup host city this summer, panicked travelers at the international airport were seen running and crouching on the floor after reports of nearby gunshots.
Schools across several states canceled classes, and Mexican football authorities postponed multiple Liga MX matches.
Authorities issue update
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum moved quickly to project calm, urging citizens to remain ‘calm and informed’ and stressing that activities across the vast majority of the country were proceeding normally.
She praised Mexico’s security forces and confirmed ‘absolute coordination’ between federal and state governments.
Mexico’s Security Cabinet confirmed that by late Sunday, approximately 90% of road blockades had been cleared. Twenty-five people were arrested, 11 in connection with violent acts and 14 for alleged looting.
The US State Department urged American nationals across multiple Mexican states, including Jalisco, Baja California, Quintana Roo, and parts of Guerrero, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas, to shelter in place until further notice.
The UK Foreign Office similarly advised British travelers to exercise ‘extreme caution’ and follow local authority orders. Jalisco’s governor declared a formal ‘code red,’ halting all public transport and canceling mass events.
Karoline Leavitt
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the US provided intelligence support for the operation. Credit: Alamy
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the US provided intelligence support for the operation, describing El Mencho as ‘a top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland.’
Security experts are now warning that while El Mencho’s killing marks a landmark moment in drug enforcement history, stability is far from guaranteed.
With his son jailed in the US and no clear family successor, a power struggle within the CJNG appears likely, with senior commanders already being identified as potential contenders for the throne.
Whether the cartel transitions peacefully or fractures into internal conflict, analysts warn the violence is far from over.
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Head of the FBI, Kash Patel, has sent social media into a frenzy after clips of him celebrating the USA's ice hockey win at the 2026 Winter Olympics has gone viral.
Credit: ABC News & X
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FBI Director Kash Patel Sparks Outrage After Celebrating USA’s Ice Hockey Win At Winter Olympics
by Mia Williams
Updated: 16:26 23 February 2026
Published: 16:26 23 February 2026
Head of the FBI, Kash Patel, has sent social media into a frenzy after clips of him celebrating the USA‘s ice hockey win at the 2026 Winter Olympics has gone viral.
Users online are not happy after footage of Kash Patel celebrating with the US ice hockey team, following their historic win, has circulated on social media.
Patel, who was attending the final days of the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, was captured on camera in Team USA’s locker room.
The US men defeated Canada 2-1, while the US women’s team also beat Canada 2-1 during overtime.
The FBI director, while a hockey fan, also plays the sport recreationally.
Who is Kash Patel?
Kash Patel is currently serving as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, one of the most powerful law-enforcement roles in the US government.
He was nominated by Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate in February 2025.
A trained lawyer, Patel began his career as a public defender before moving into national security and counterterrorism work at the Department of Justice.
FBI Director Kash Patel
Kash Patel was appointed FBI director by Donald Trump. Credit: Alamy
He later became a senior aide on the House Intelligence Committee, where he played a central role in Republican investigations into the Trump–Russia probe, work that brought him into Trump’s inner circle.
He went on to hold several senior roles in the Trump administration, including positions at the National Security Council and the Pentagon.
Now, as FBI Director, Patel remains firmly inside government – overseeing the bureau’s intelligence and federal law-enforcement operations nationwide.
The viral clip
In the video, Patel can be seen joining the US men’s hockey team in their locker room following their gold medal victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
He cheered as the team marked the victory, drank beer and jumped around with players, as one of them placed an old medal around his neck.
The government official could also be seen shouting congratulations as the team roared around him.
A source sent me this video of FBI Director Kash Patel partying with the US Men's Olympic Hockey team. pic.twitter.com/egjmdhOAF6
— William Turton (@WilliamTurton) February 22, 2026
And while reaction to the clip was predominantly outrage, some defended the FBI director.
One said: “I love this!!! An FBI Director that Loves America and wants us to WIN!”
A negative response
Despite few praising the passion displayed, many argued that the ‘tax-payer-funded’ trip was probably not the best use of his time.
Despite the price of the vacation remaining undisclosed, one user wrote: “Fun Fact: You paid over $400,000 for Kash Patel’s Olympic vacation.”
“Kash Patel took a taxpayer funded vacation to Italy on a private jet to recreate the Drake ‘bro thinks he’s on the team’ meme with Team USA hockey,” another added.
A third said: “Pathetic display of leadership. Trash for wasting our hard earned money.”
Others reminded Patel that Nancy Guthrie is still missing.
nancy and savannah guthrie
The FBI were directed to work on the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Credit: @savannahguthrie/Instagram
“I guess Nancy Guthrie can wait a little longer, this whole administration is useless,” one wrote.
Update on disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
The disappearance of Nancy has quickly captured the attention of the entire country.
Savannah Guthrie, her TV star daughter, has made a series of heartbreaking public pleas alongside her siblings Cameron and Annie, begging for their mother’s safe return, after she was kidnapped in January.
President Trump deployed some of the FBI’s most skilled officers to assist in the investigation, with FBI Director Kash Patel personally overseeing the case.
There has been no update from authorities for several days, and the 84-year-old is very much still missing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI’s 24-hour command post, which continues to operate around the clock with crisis management experts, analytic support, and investigative teams dedicated to bringing Nancy home.
Kash Patel responds to viral clip
The FBI director has since issued a statement, after the footage circulated on social media.
Addressing the moment, he wrote on X: “For the very concerned media – yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted gold medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys.
“Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.”
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More than 100,000 UK households face the risk of losing control of their heating and hot water as their old electricity meters are set to be switched off.
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Alert To Over 100,000 Brits Who Could Lose Heating And Hot Water As Meters ‘Switched Off’
by Aimee Walker
Updated: 15:36 23 February 2026
Published: 15:36 23 February 2026
More than 100,000 UK households face the risk of losing control of their heating and hot water as their old electricity meters are set to be switched off.
Nearly 150,000 UK households with outdated electricity meters are being warned that they risk losing control of their heating and hot water if they do not upgrade to a smart meter.
Those still using the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) are being encouraged to switch before the RTS signal is permanently turned off this summer.
The phased shutdown, which switches off the RTS signal for groups of customers at a time, will restart in March in England and Wales and in April in Scotland, following a winter pause.
This temporary pause was intended to prevent customers from losing control of heating and hot water during the coldest months.
Heating and hot warning
UK households with outdated electricity meters are being warned that they risk losing control of their heating and hot water if they do not upgrade. Credit: Adobe Stock
Since January 2025, over 300,000 RTS meters have been replaced. As of late January 2026, 154,000 RTS meters remain, but only 8,000 replacement appointments have been booked with energy suppliers.
Energy UK, together with consumer groups and regulator Ofgem, is urging the remaining 146,000 RTS customers to arrange a visit from an engineer through their supplier to ensure they maintain control of heating and hot water after the service ends.
Ned Hammond, Deputy Director, Policy (Customers) at Energy UK, said: “Suppliers have been working hard to deliver a carefully managed phase out of the RTS signal and have replaced more than 300,000 RTS meters in the last year. They’ve contacted affected customers multiple times, including people in remote and hard-to-reach locations. This long-running replacement programme was ramped up last year because the ageing RTS infrastructure was at increasing risk of failure, meaning customers needed to be moved onto more reliable metering solutions.
“The final switch off is now imminent and we’re expecting a rush for appointments in this final stage. Your supplier will notify you when your meter is being phased out but the best way to avoid any impact on your hot water and heating is to book an appointment as soon as you can.”
Introduced in the 1980s, RTS uses a long-range radio signal to switch between peak and off-peak rates. The equipment that generates this signal is now outdated, increasingly unreliable, and cannot be maintained effectively, raising the risk of unexpected failures.
Heating radiator
Homes and businesses that don’t replace their meter could lose control of heating or hot water, or be charged at the wrong times. Credit: Adobe Stock
Homes and businesses that do not arrange a meter replacement could lose control of heating or hot water, or face energy charges at the wrong time of day, leading to higher bills. Energy suppliers provide the meter replacement free of charge and can advise on suitable tariffs.
In most cases, RTS meters will be replaced with smart meters, which can automate peak and off-peak rates while offering access to a wider variety of tariffs. Customers worried about energy debt or paying bills should contact their supplier for support.
You may have an RTS meter if you:
Have received letters, emails, texts, or calls from your electricity supplier regarding an RTS meter in your property
Have a switch box near your electricity meter labeled “Radio Teleswitch” or “RTS”
Use electric or storage heaters
Have no gas supply in your area, such as in rural locations or blocks of flats
Benefit from cheaper energy at certain times of day, like tariffs Economy 7, Economy 10, or Total Heat Total Control
For more information, visit Ofgem’s dedicated RTS webpage: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/replacing-your-radio-teleswitch-electricity-meter
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