The U.S. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) has identified Juan Carlos Valencia González, alias "El 03," as the new leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) following the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho" in February.
The U.S. Department of State has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the cartel's new leader.
According to the NCTC, Valencia González now serves as the organization's top commander. His leadership structure is said to include Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez, alias "El Chorro," and Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán, alias "El Sapo," who allegedly act as his principal lieutenants.
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The designation of "El 03" as the suspected head of the CJNG marks the first time the U.S. government has publicly identified him as the leader of the criminal organization previously headed by "El Mencho".
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Who Is Juan Carlos Valencia González?
Known within the CJNG as "El 03," Juan Carlos Valencia González is the son of Rosalinda González Valencia from a previous relationship. Rosalinda later married Oseguera Cervantes, making Valencia González the stepson of "El Mencho". According to U.S. authorities, he was born on September 12, 1984, in Santa Ana, California, and holds U.S. citizenship.
The NCTC file also states that Valencia González is facing federal drug trafficking charges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where a criminal case tied to organized crime and narcotics trafficking remains pending.
In March, The Wall Street Journal reported that a U.S. citizen appeared poised to become the new leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The report identified Juan Carlos Valencia González, the California-born stepson of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, as the figure who had begun rising through the organization's ranks following the cartel boss's death.
According to the newspaper, security analysts believe Valencia González has the greatest legitimacy within the CJNG to oversee a smooth leadership transition, increasing the likelihood of a relatively peaceful transfer of power inside the criminal organization.
How "El Mencho" Was Killed
According to federal reports, Oseguera Cervantes was killed during an operation led by Mexican federal forces in the state of Jalisco, reportedly near the municipality of Talpa de Allende, an area considered a stronghold of the criminal organization. The operation was followed by cartel road blockades in at least six Mexican states.
Who Was "El Mencho"?
Background: Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," rose from humble beginnings in a rural community in the state of Michoacán to become one of the world's most powerful and wanted drug traffickers. He was killed on February 22 during a federal operation in the western Mexican state of Jalisco.
Under his leadership, the CJNG expanded rapidly across much of Mexico and established international trafficking routes for methamphetamine and fentanyl destined for the United States.
As a young man, Oseguera Cervantes migrated to the United States, where he was arrested in the 1990s on drug-related charges before being deported to Mexico. After returning, he joined criminal networks linked to the Milenio Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel.
Following the death of Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel and the breakup of the Milenio Cartel, Oseguera Cervantes and other operators consolidated the organization that evolved into the CJNG around 2011. Under his command, the group quickly expanded throughout Mexico and into international drug markets.
Authorities in both Mexico and the United States considered him one of the world's most wanted drug traffickers. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had offered up to $10 million for information leading to his capture, while the Mexican government also maintained a multimillion-dollar reward.
The CJNG has been accused of trafficking synthetic drugs, laundering money, and carrying out escalating attacks against security forces, making it the principal rival of the Sinaloa Cartel.
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