Press Under Fire in Mexico as Cartel Violence Spills Over into Attacks on Journalists

Organised crime retaliation after the killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” has spilled into the media sphere, with criminal groups targeting journalists amid a broader surge of violence across Mexico. The federal operation that resulted in El Mencho’s death sparked unrest in at least 20 states, leading to roadblocks, shootings, and widespread chaos — and at least eight attacks on members of the press covering the unfolding events, according to documentation by press freedom monitors.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said eight separate incidents were recorded on February 22, 2026, in states including Guanajuato, Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, and Sinaloa, where journalists were threatened, physically assaulted, or had equipment stolen by individuals believed to be linked to organised crime groups. These incidents occurred amid the same violence that saw cartel gunmen retaliating against security forces and blocking highways after news of the cartel leader’s death spread.

Press freedom organisations — including RSF and Article 19, which tracks violence against journalists — have urged Mexican federal and state authorities to investigate the attacks and implement meaningful protections for media workers operating in high-risk environments. They stressed that conditions for journalists remain perilous, particularly for those reporting on crime and corruption in regions dominated by powerful cartels.

The unrest triggered by El Mencho’s killing saw a rapid escalation of criminal violence tied to CJNG, including armed clashes, roadblocks, and arson across several states. Mexican authorities responded by deploying thousands of additional soldiers in affected areas to stabilise the security situation.

Experts and press advocates note that attacks on journalists are not new in Mexico, which has been one of the most dangerous countries in the world for media workers for years, largely due to organised crime and conditions of impunity. Previous reports have documented numerous murders, threats and harassment of reporters pursuing stories on drug trafficking, corruption, and public security, with a significant share of these crimes going unresolved by law enforcement.

In calling on authorities to protect journalists and uphold freedom of expression, rights groups emphasise that safeguarding reporters is essential to democratic accountability — and that failing to do so allows violence-induced censorship and intimidation to persist unchecked.

Reference –

Violence unleashed on press after killing of criminal leader in Mexico

https://rsf.org/en/mexico-criminal-groups-attack-journalists-after-death-cartel-leader-government-must-ensure-justice