Mexico’s most wanted cartel boss is dead. Is it enough for Trump?
The Global Story
BBC
3.8 • 668 Ratings
🗓️ 27 February 2026
⏱️ 27 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Mexico’s most wanted man – Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho” – was killed during a security operation to arrest the cartel leader on Sunday.
In the days that followed, the operation was celebrated by President Trump in his State of the Union address. But it came at a cost, as cartel members carried out retaliatory rampages across Mexico and turned many towns and cities into war zones.
El Mencho’s death came after months of pressure from the Trump administration on Mexico to do more to fight the drug cartels. According to one NBC News report, the US even considered sending troops into Mexico.
Our correspondent, Will Grant, examines the dilemma Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum now faces – and we ask if she is now caught between Trump and the cartels.
Producers: Chris Benderev and Aron Keller
Executive producer: James Shield
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior News Editor: China Collins
Image Credits: FILE PHOTO: Members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), led by Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” poses for a photo at an undisclosed location in Michoacan state, Mexico, October 15, 2022. REUTERS/Stringer
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:06.0 | We noticed towards the end of last year that there was a news report on NBC, that the Trump |
| 0:11.4 | administration was preparing to possibly send U.S. troops into Mexico. |
| 0:16.9 | The target would be the drug cartels. |
| 0:19.3 | And shortly after that story, Trump was asked about it. |
| 0:22.0 | Also potentially launching strikes in Mexico or putting American troops or American personnel into Mexico to deal with the cartels. |
| 0:29.4 | What I want strikes in Mexico to stop drugs? |
| 0:32.9 | It's okay with me. |
| 0:34.8 | Whatever we have to do to stop drugs, Mexico is... So this past Sunday, when Mexico's most powerful drug lord was taken out, a guy who went by the name El Mentiono, |
| 0:44.1 | it was notable that it was Mexican authorities who carried out the operation, |
| 0:49.0 | with the help of a little bit of intel from their neighbors to the north. |
| 0:53.2 | Mexico's president, Claudia Shanebaum, told journalists she got a phone call from the American |
| 0:57.4 | president just to check in. |
| 1:02.4 | And it wasn't particularly surprising, because, after all, for the last year, President Trump |
| 1:08.7 | has been on a pressure campaign demanding that Mexico |
| 1:12.6 | crack down on cartels. |
| 1:14.5 | For years, cartels have been a powerful, pervasive force in Mexico. |
| 1:19.7 | And in response to the death of Almencho, reaction and revenge were swift. |
| 1:23.9 | His cartel set fire to businesses and vehicles. |
| 1:26.9 | An organized strategic arson operation. |
| 1:30.1 | Unleashing chaos on the streets. Violent clashes, blocking streets. School is now canceled |
| 1:35.9 | tomorrow in several states. Shane Baum now finds herself trying to reassure her people and the world |
... |
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