Reward for cartel leader jumps tenfold
The U.S. State Department announced a $25 million bounty for Juan Carlos González, known as 'Pelón,' the California-born leader of Mexico's most powerful cartel. The reward marks a tenfold increase from the previous $5 million offer. González is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Mexico and has taken control of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, which is now a foreign terrorist organization.
The U.S. is targeting not just González, but others in CJNG's leadership. For instance, up to $15 million is now on offer for each of three key figures, including González's father-in-law, Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez. The U.S. is also applying financial pressure, having recently sanctioned 50 individuals and entities linked to the cartel.
Cartel leader killed, new tensions escalate
In February, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho,' the previous leader of CJNG, was killed in an operation involving U.S. intelligence. This led to a spike in violence in Jalisco. González, Oseguera Cervantes's stepson, is reported to have assumed leadership since then. Under his control, CJNG is linked to not only drug smuggling but also avocado production and fuel theft, generating millions annually.
The cartel’s reach is vast, operating in 21 of Mexico's 32 states. Its activities extend to avocado production, fuel siphoning, and financial fraud. The U.S. Treasury has recently taken action, sanctioning two individuals and nine companies involved in the fuel theft ring. These actions are part of a strategy to cripple the cartel’s financial and operational capabilities.
Trump administration intensifies pressure on Mexico
The Trump administration has pushed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to take harsher action against cartels, even threatening military responses. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared in a statement that the U.S. is 'dismantling and destroying' CJNG. These efforts include blocking financial transactions and freezing assets, aiming to destabilize the organization's leadership and funding streams.
U.S. officials argue that CJNG's violent and economic activities threaten not only Mexico but also the U.S. Its operations include smuggling and money laundering, with financial networks spanning multiple industries. The increased reward for González reflects this strategic shift in how the U.S. is approaching cartel-linked crimes. It's an attempt to draw on public cooperation and informants in Mexico and abroad to dismantle the organization from within.