Mexico's Secretary of National Defense (Sedena), General Ricardo Treviño Trejo, stated that the location of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, 'El Mencho', was achieved because intelligence forces followed one of his romantic partners to the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco. The head of the agency detailed that the toll from the clash with the drug lord's bodyguards was eight dead from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and two injured personnel. Treviño Trejo, who was alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum when giving the report to the press, recounted that on February 20, a trusted person of 'El Mencho' was located, who had transported one of the CJNG leader's women to his position. After the woman left the next day, February 21, military intelligence maintained surveillance at the location where Oseguera Cervantes was located, and it was decided to attempt his apprehension, according to Mexican media and the Argentine News Agency. On the same day, an operational force was organized, consisting of special forces from the Army, the National Guard, and aircraft from the Mexican Air Force (FAM). 'Once the presence of El Mencho was confirmed on the 22nd, the ground force moved to the place where he was to carry out the arrest,' the official pointed out. The secretary recounted that El Mencho's security personnel opened fire on the military personnel. El Mencho came out and left a group with abundant weaponry; the criminal group carried out a very violent attack. In the operation, eight alleged criminals died and two soldiers were injured, reported Treviño Trejo. The crime leader and his inner circle entered a forested area on the outskirts of Tapalpa, where they hid among the undergrowth; upon detecting that the military personnel were following them, they opened fire on the Special Forces unit. While repelling the attack, 'El Mencho' was wounded along with two of his bodyguards, and two others were arrested at the scene. During the actions, one of the Air Force's helicopters was hit by a rocket, but managed to land safely at nearby military installations. Due to the severity of El Mencho's and his accomplices' injuries, it was decided to evacuate them by air to a medical facility in Jalisco; however, he died en route, so the helicopter's route was changed to Morelia Airport, the official added. In Morelia, a Mexican Air Force CASA C-295 plane waiting on the runway transported the body of 'El Mencho', his bodyguards, and an injured soldier.
