Mike Force Podcast: Cartel Leader Killed | Now What?

Host: Mike Glover
Date: February 26, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mike Glover, a veteran and former Green Beret, delves deep into the chaos and consequences surrounding the reported death of El Mencho, leader of the CJNG cartel in Mexico. Moving beyond headlines, Mike provides a detailed breakdown of cartel evolution, operational tactics, the U.S. role in such high-stakes raids, and what the fallout means for both Mexico and the United States. The discussion’s tone is candid, reflective, and firmly rooted in first-hand experience and intelligence community insight.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Background on CJNG & El Mencho

• CJNG’s Origins & Transformation
  • CJNG (Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación) emerged around 2010, making it a relatively new but extremely dynamic player.
  • Formed out of the fragmentation of the Millennial Cartel, with El Mencho consolidating power in Jalisco by ruthlessly eliminating rivals.
• Operational Uniqueness
  • Known for brutal messaging and military-style discipline—propaganda videos showcased “disciplined, uniform fighters” equipped with advanced weaponry ([05:12]).
  • CJNG moved aggressively into drug corridors, specializing in fentanyl production for US markets.

2. Cartel as Paramilitary Force

• Modern Tactics
  • The cartel functions with a hybrid structure: centralized authority at the top but semi-autonomous regional cells—“operationally, they function less like a traditional mafia and more like an insurgency network” ([07:45]).
  • Use of armored vehicles, encrypted comms, drone reconnaissance, and night vision mirrors military operations.
• Direct Confrontation with Mexican State
  • CJNG’s willingness to shoot down a military helicopter during a 2015 raid underscored their combat capability ([13:12]).

3. The Raid on El Mencho: What Happened?

• How the Targeting Occurred

  • A girlfriend allegedly betrayed El Mencho, leading to his location being identified ([08:45]).
  • U.S. forces provided intelligence and likely tactical assistance—Mike suspects Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) was directly involved.

    “I suspect because I worked with JSOC before that it was Joint Special Operations Command... collecting all the information... using sigint, humint, all these different triggers to execute a flawless raid.” ([09:18])

  • Six helicopters were used, likely by 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
  • Mike draws parallels to his Afghanistan experience, where “bilat” operations—host nation faces, U.S. main effort—were standard.

• No Official U.S. Boots on the Ground—Officially

  • There’s no public record of U.S. forces conducting direct action inside Mexico, but it is common knowledge in the military-intelligence community that advisory, intelligence, and covert roles are typical.
  • Mike references the alleged U.S. role in Pablo Escobar’s death as precedent ([12:28]).

4. Aftermath: Immediate and Strategic Retaliation

• Tactical Retaliation by CJNG

  • Seven Mexican states erupted in violence after El Mencho’s reported death ([16:00]).
  • Retaliation included the killing of 25 National Guardsmen, civilian casualties, and widespread vehicle arson affecting buses, trains, and planes.
  • A bounty of $1,100 was put on military personnel's heads—demonstrating rapid cartel coordination.

• Succession & Network Resilience

  • Cartels are structured for quick succession—“the next guy bumps up” sometimes before even knowing ([18:55]).
  • Mike refers to Iraq operations, where successors were killed faster than the chain of command could inform them.

5. Broader Implications & Geopolitical Tensions

• Three Phases of Fallout

  1. Immediate Tactical Disruption – Roadblocks, targeted attacks to complicate law enforcement and extraction ([20:11]).
  2. Strategic Signaling – Propaganda and media manipulation to project organizational resilience.
  3. Geopolitical Sensitivity – Any perceived US involvement “raises sovereignty sensitivities in Mexico” ([23:00]).

• CJNG's Adaptability and U.S. Security

  • Decapitation of leadership doesn’t destroy the cartel. Their structure allows for rapid adjustment and survival.
  • U.S. intelligence and kinetic involvement remain deliberately low-profile due to political sensitivities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cartel Evolution:

  “The CJNG isn’t just another cartel. It’s one of the fastest growing criminal militarized organizations in modern history.” – Mike Glover ([03:41])

• On U.S. Special Ops Involvement:

  “I suspect that they had a bilat option and it was a Mexican military operation. But for sure there was advisors on target with them that were probably shooting bad guys in the face.” ([12:08]) “Did we risk it with Pablo Escobar? ... it’s probably confirmed now in open source that [he] was likely killed by a Delta operator.” ([12:28])

• On Tactical Fallout:

  “Seven different states had instances of violence... 25 National Guardsmen... and they put out the hit—$1,100 for the killing of any military members...” ([16:25])

• On Succession Reality:

  “He hadn’t even gotten word that he was taking over because we had intel... that knew he was going to take over before he got the formal change of command ceremony. He gets schwacked. That’s how fast this happens.” ([19:08])

• On U.S. Domestic Implications:

  “The question is, how many CJNG members are in America? That network exists here because we’re the main consumer... They’re potentially going to retaliate. And they’re going to start attacking Americans in the United States deliberately as part of their larger strategy.” ([27:03])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• CJNG Formation & Tactics: [03:41] – [07:45]
• How the Raid Went Down / U.S. Intelligence Role: [08:45] – [13:10]
• Violent Retaliation & Network Resilience: [16:00] – [19:10]
• Operational Fallout & Three Categories of Response: [20:11] – [24:00]
• Geopolitical Sensitivities & U.S. Security Concerns: [23:00] – [27:50]
• Broader Threat to the U.S.: [27:03] – [30:20]

Conclusion / Takeaways

• The killing of a cartel leader like El Mencho is only one move in a protracted, evolving conflict between transnational criminal organizations and state authorities.
• The CJNG, thanks to its militarization and decentralization, is resilient against top-down targeting.
• The fallout from such operations has immediate, violent, and sometimes international implications; the threat is no longer confined to Mexico.
• Mike underscores the need for vigilance, understanding that the cartels’ reach extends across the border, affecting U.S. communities and complicating broader national security landscapes.

For full detailed analysis and personal insights, listen to the episode or check Mike Glover's other content for ongoing coverage of emerging threats.