Written by: Maria Jose Gamba | February 23, 2026
Mexico's security calendar has been permanently marked by February 22. Yesterday, Sunday, the country experienced one of the most intense days in its recent history after confirming the takedown of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in a precision operation in the mountain region of Tapalpa, Jalisco.
Today, Monday February 23, 2026, while the Security Cabinet reports that the 85 blockades registered in 20 states have been deactivated, the logistics sector breathes with caution. The question for those of us who move the country's economy is not just political, but operational: How does the risk map on Mexican highways change after this blow to the heart of the country's most expansive criminal structure? At Control Terrestre, we analyze the scenarios and the resilience needed to keep supply chains active on this new board.
The Immediate Impact: X-Ray of a Day of Fire
Sunday's reaction was not a surprise, but it was a trial by fire for emergency protocols. With more than 252 reported incidents, including vehicle burnings on vital arteries like the Mexico-Queretaro and Mexico-Puebla highways, freight transport was forced to a complete preventive halt.
The absolute priority was operator safety. Yesterday's news demonstrated that logistics is no longer just a matter of times and costs, but of real-time intelligence. The "administrative blockades" and class suspensions in several states this Monday are the echo of a structure that, although decapitated, still maintains local response capability. Recovery to normalcy in less than 24 hours is a triumph of institutional coordination, but for the private sector, it's a reminder that vulnerability remains present in strategic corridors.
Scenario A: Fragmentation and the "Toll Tax"
History has taught us that when a head of such magnitude falls, local factions—in this case, led by figures like "El 03"—may enter internal disputes for control of territories.
From a logistics perspective, this could lead to increased insecurity in specific stretches of Jalisco, Michoacan, and Guanajuato. Fragmentation usually brings a lack of criminal "order," which increases merchandise theft and small-scale extortions. Our networking and monitoring strategy becomes vital: today more than ever, sharing real-time incident information between fleets is the only way to shield passage through these hot zones.
Scenario B: USMCA Reordering and Nearshoring
We cannot ignore international pressure. This historic operation occurs in a year when trade with the United States and the proximity of the 2026 World Cup demand absolute stability. The news of "El Mencho's" takedown sends a message of state control that could strengthen investor confidence in Nearshoring.
However, for this confidence to translate into logistics efficiency, the State must guarantee that industrial corridors do not again become currency of exchange in violent reactions. Teamwork between the National Guard and freight transport companies will be the pillar of the first half of 2026. We are convinced that traceability technology (GPS, smart seals, and opening sensors) will be the tool that differentiates resilient companies from those that stop in the face of fear.
Prevention Logistics: What Should Companies Do Today?
This February 23 is not an ordinary Monday. It is the beginning of a critical observation phase. We recommend that our allies and clients implement the following measures immediately:
Route audit: Evaluate alternative stretches to avoid zones with greater historical CJNG presence while the group's internal succession stabilizes.
Safe stops: Only use rest points with certified security and 24/7 communication protocols.
Networking strengthening: Stay in direct contact with transportation chambers (CANACAR, CONATRAM) to receive alerts about reactive blockades before units get trapped.
We understand that information is the most valuable asset in moments of geopolitical and criminal transition.
The 2026 World Cup and the Final Security Test
Just months away from the ball rolling in Guadalajara and Mexico City, yesterday's events test the national security narrative. The Sheinbaum government's response capacity to clear blockades in record time is a positive sign, but World Cup logistics demands that these events not occur at all.
The invisible infrastructure we always talk about on this blog—trust between actors—is under examination. The logistics success of 2026 will depend on how we transform this blow to crime into an opportunity to thoroughly clean commercial routes. The death of the most wanted capo is the closing of a cycle, but the beginning of an unprecedented operational intelligence challenge.
The fall of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes is news that changes Mexico's history, but for those of us who move the country's cargo, it is a call to maximum alert and maximum efficiency. Logistics does not stop, but it adapts. At Control Terrestre, we are ready to navigate this transition with the same determination with which we move every shipment: with intelligence, security, and an unwavering commitment to Mexico's movement.
Protect Your Logistics with Control Terrestre
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At Control Terrestre, we understand today's challenges to ensure tomorrow's success. Together, we move peace and progress.
