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US offers $25 million reward for alleged leader of Mexico's most powerful cartel
🇺🇸 United States /Crime & Justice

US offers $25 million reward for alleged leader of Mexico's most powerful cartel

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The U.S. government has offered a $25 million reward for information leading to the capture of Juan Carlos González, a U.S. citizen identified as the leader of Mexico's most powerful cartel, the CJNG.
  • This reward significantly increases the previous $5 million offer and is part of a broader U.S. strategy to cripple the cartel's leadership, including recent sanctions and unsealed charges against other high-ranking members.
  • CJNG, designated a foreign terrorist organization, is involved in drug smuggling and other illicit activities, and the U.S. is pressuring Mexico to intensify its crackdown on such groups.

The United States is intensifying its pressure on Mexico's most powerful cartel by offering a $25 million reward for information on its alleged leader, Juan Carlos González. This U.S. citizen is reportedly at the helm of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a group involved in drug smuggling and other criminal enterprises.

The increased reward, up from $5 million, is part of a multi-pronged strategy by U.S. authorities. This includes recently unsealed charges against five other high-ranking CJNG leaders and sanctions imposed on 50 individuals and companies linked to the cartel. These actions aim to dismantle the organization's leadership structure.

These sophisticated organizations use violence and fear to maintain control over the importation of deadly narcotics in the United States, including fentanyl, cocaine, meth, and other illegal drugs. Their actions spread violence and death to our communities.

— Todd BlancheActing Attorney General Todd Blanche explained the U.S. government's rationale for targeting cartels during a news conference.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that these "sophisticated organizations use violence and fear to maintain control over the importation of deadly narcotics." The CJNG, designated a foreign terrorist organization, has expanded its reach across 21 of Mexico's 32 states and into the United States. The cartel's operations are diverse, extending even to avocado production.

This latest move follows the February killing of former leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, or "El Mencho," an operation for which the U.S. provided intelligence. González, identified as Oseguera Cervantes's stepson and a dual Mexican-U.S. citizen, is believed to have taken over leadership. The U.S. government continues to pressure Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to crack down on cartels, with past threats of military action.

This is a fight against CJNG that we are just beginning, and we will not back down.

— Terrance ColeTerrance Cole, head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, commented on the ongoing efforts against the cartel.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by PBS NewsHour in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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