Mexican Cartel Leader's SF Drug Dealing Past Revealed

El Mencho, killed in 2026, had his start selling drugs in San Francisco at age 19.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 3:03am

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New details have emerged about the early criminal history of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as 'El Mencho,' the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel who was killed in a shootout with Mexican authorities in 2026. According to reports, El Mencho got his start selling drugs in San Francisco's streets at the age of 19 in 1986, before rising to become one of Mexico's most notorious and powerful cartel bosses.

Why it matters

El Mencho's criminal origins in San Francisco provide insight into how some of Mexico's most powerful and dangerous cartel leaders can have roots in the United States, highlighting the interconnected nature of the illegal drug trade across borders.

The details

In 1986, a 19-year-old Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes was arrested in San Francisco for selling a small amount of marijuana. This minor drug dealing arrest was an early indication of the violent criminal path he would go down, eventually leading him to become the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico's most powerful and ruthless drug trafficking organizations.

  • In 1986, Oseguera Cervantes was arrested in San Francisco for selling marijuana.

The players

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes

Also known as 'El Mencho,' he was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico's most powerful and violent drug trafficking organizations, until his death in 2026.

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The takeaway

El Mencho's early drug dealing arrest in San Francisco foreshadowed his later rise to become one of Mexico's most notorious cartel leaders, underscoring how the illegal drug trade can create a pipeline for criminals to ascend to positions of immense power and influence across international borders.