July 24, 2026 / 8:24 AM EDT
/ CBS/AFP
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The United States on Thursday announced a slew of sanctions targeting more than 50 Mexican individuals and entities allegedly linked to one of the country's largest drug cartels, including a California-born man Washington says is the Jalisco New Generation Cartel's new leader. According to a statement from the Treasury Department, dual U.S.-Mexican national Juan Carlos Gonzalez took control of the cartel (known by its Spanish acronym CJNG) after the killing of its previous chief "El Mencho" in February. CJNG is an ultra-violent Mexico-based paramilitary cartel involved in extortion, money laundering and running a global drug trafficking network. Gonzalez, also known as "Pelon," is the stepson of "El Mencho" — real name Nemesio Oseguera — who was injured and captured in a military sweep in Mexico's Jalisco state in February and died of his injuries en route to the hospital. The killing sparked a wave of violence across Mexico, with the cartel setting up highway blockades and setting fire to vehicles and buildings in 20 of the country's 32 states. More than 70 people died in that violence, including 25 National Guard members. In April, Mexican authorities said they had captured two top criminals, including Audias Flores Silva (alias "The Gardener"), described as Oseguera's right-hand man and expected by many to succeed him as the head of CJNG. Silva, who was arrested on April 27 while hiding in a ditch in the western state of Nayarit, was identified by the U.S. Treasury as one of Gonzalez's deputies.
