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Did 'Mexican Drug Cartels' Start the California Wildfires?

Violence flared in early 2026 after Mexican forces killed a top cartel leader.

by Taija PerryCook, Oct. 17, 2017

This image shows a burning bus amid violence between the Mexican government and cartel forces in February 2026.

Image courtesy of Getty Images

In February 2026, Mexican forces killed the cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — more commonly known as "El Mencho" in an organized raid on the leader's mountain hideout.

Violence ensued as Oseguera Cervantes' organization, Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion), struck back, lighting gas stations and hijacked vehicles on fire to blockade traffic, killing dozens of Mexican forces as well as at least one civilian woman. The chaos caused Puerto Vallarta's airport to shut down and dozens to shelter in place.

Here are six rumors about Mexican cartels that Snopes has investigated.

By Taija PerryCook

Taija PerryCook is a Seattle-based journalist who previously worked for the PNW news site Crosscut and the Jordan Times in Amman.

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Did 'Mexican Drug Cartels' Start the California Wildfires?

Oct. 17, 2017

Disreputable web sites provide no evidence to support a half-baked theory about the cause of the ...

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