Claims that El Mencho’s son had been arrested began circulating after the murder of the feared drug lord. Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed by Mexican military forces on Sunday.
Allegations increased that his son was captured by the Mexican army and taken for interrogation. An alleged video clip was also widely circulated online, showing the interior of a helicopter.
Track live updates from Mexico after El Mencho’s murder
“The son of cartel leader El Mencho has been arrested by the Mexican army and taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation,” one person wrote. The post has since received more than 160,000 views.
In the alleged video, two people can be seen wearing what appears to be tactical gear worn by law enforcement. They are seen grabbing a person who is not wearing any clothes. The sound in the alleged clip cannot be heard above the sound of the plane.
The video was shared by many other profiles. Many others have made similar claims without attaching the aforementioned clip. One page said: “They arrested El Mencho’s son too! LFG was captured alive! He will face justice!” Another added: “They also captured the Minchu’s son, so it’s only going to get worse.”
Validation of allegations of “arrest” of El Mencho’s son
The allegations regarding the arrest of El Mencho’s son almost certainly come from unverified profiles. It has been widely exaggerated on social media without any evidence. As such, Al Manchu’s son was not arrested in today’s operation according to the latest available information.
Read also | El Mencho dies: FIFA moves 2026 World Cup matches from Mexico amid turmoil? The truth behind the viral claims
There has been no update on it from the mainstream media, or from official Mexican and US authorities. Grock verified these claims as well, saying: “Recent reports from The New York Times, Reuters, and Mexican officials confirm that Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (“El Mencho”) was killed in a military operation on February 22, 2026 in Jalisco. There are no reliable sources that say his son was captured recently — his son “El Menchito” was captured in 2015 and extradited to the United States in 2020.
El Mencho’s Children: Jessica Johanna Oseguera in focus
El Mencho has three children – Rubén Oseguera González (“El Menchito”), Jessica Johanna Oseguera, and Laisha Oseguera.
El Menchito, who was at one time his second-in-command, was already convicted. A 2021 report noted that Leisha Oseguera, one of the daughters, was also involved in the cartel and was at one point wanted for the alleged kidnapping of two navy personnel.
However, a lot of the focus seems to be on Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, or La Negra. She also holds US citizenship but also remains behind bars after her arrest in 2021. She was sentenced to 30 months in prison in the US for “knowingly engaging in financial transactions with Mexican companies identified as Specially Designated Drug Traffickers.”
Now, social media speculation has focused on her as a potential successor as the CJNG looks to fill the leadership void. “After the operation in Jalisco where Nemesio Oseguera “El Mencho” was killed, his daughter Jessica Johanna Oseguera González has emerged as a key figure in the succession of the CJNG. The authorities maintain a red alert due to violent incidents in different states,” said a post on X. Some reports also indicated that she emerged as a “central figure” after her father’s death. HT.com was unable to independently verify these claims. The authorities have not officially announced who the next president of the CJNG will be. There has been no announcement from the cartel either.
It is worth noting that El Mencho also has a stepson – Juan Carlos Valencia Gonzalez or El Belon – who has been identified as his de facto second-in-command by the authorities. However, there were no reports of his arrest either, even though the alleged video went viral.
