In a move against one of Mexico’s most brutal and prolific criminal organizations, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today announced sanctions against five Mexico-based leaders of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG).
The action directly targets the cartel’s notorious founder and leader, Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” alongside other key figures responsible for the cartel’s reign of terror and its role in flooding the United States with illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl.
Zeroing in on CJNG’s Inner Circle
Today’s sanctions are a direct strike at the heart of CJNG’s command structure. Beyond “El Mencho,” OFAC has designated three other senior cartel members:
- Julio Alberto Castillo Rodriguez, “El Mencho’s” son-in-law, whose influence at the deep-water port of Manzanillo has been critical in facilitating the procurement of precursor chemicals for fentanyl.
- Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytan, a high-ranking member known for CJNG’s ruthless recruitment strategies and alleged involvement in a brutal training camp where recruits who defied orders were reportedly executed.
- Audias Flores Silva, a regional commander overseeing vast swathes of CJNG territory and controlling clandestine laboratories producing methamphetamine and other illicit drugs.
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Femicide and Brutality: A Cartel’s Calling Card
Perhaps most chilling, the sanctions also name Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, a senior CJNG lieutenant closely linked to “El Mencho” and the prime suspect in the recent, shocking murder of Mexican social media influencer Valeria Marquez during a live broadcast. This brutal act underscores the cartel’s use of extreme violence, including targeted killings of women, to intimidate rivals and exert control.
“CJNG’s reign of terror across Mexico and its trafficking of fentanyl into the United States has destroyed countless innocent lives,” stated Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “The United States remains strongly committed to leveraging all available tools to degrade the capacity of CJNG and other cartels to flood our streets with dangerous drugs and perpetrate heinous acts of violence against civilians.”
A Multifaceted Criminal Empire
CJNG’s criminal enterprise extends far beyond drug trafficking. The cartel operates clandestine laboratories in Mexico to produce a wide array of illicit drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. They control strategic locations like the deep-water port of Manzanillo, crucial for their drug and precursor chemical operations.
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The cartel’s ruthless ambition is fueled by a litany of criminal activities, including fuel theft, timeshare fraud, migrant smuggling, and rampant corruption. They are known for deploying kidnappings, torture, bombings, and executions against civilians, politicians, and law enforcement alike.
This latest action builds on previous U.S. designations against CJNG, including its classification as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the U.S. Department of State in February 2025.
Sanctions: A Blow to the Cartel’s Financial Lifeline
Today’s designations, enacted under Executive Orders (E.O.) 14059 (targeting illicit drugs) and 13224 (targeting terrorists and their supporters), effectively block all property and interests in property of the sanctioned individuals within the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons. This means U.S. persons are broadly prohibited from engaging in any transactions involving these individuals or any entities they own 50% or more.
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These sanctions aim to cripple CJNG’s financial operations and its ability to procure the resources necessary for its deadly activities. Violations can lead to severe civil and criminal penalties, and foreign financial institutions that facilitate transactions for these individuals risk facing secondary sanctions.
The U.S. Department of State’s Narcotics Rewards Program is offering substantial rewards for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of “El Mencho” (up to $15 million) and Audias Flores Silva (up to $5 million), further intensifying the pressure on the cartel’s leadership.
This coordinated effort by the U.S. Treasury aims to send a clear message: the United States is committed to dismantling CJNG’s criminal network and holding its brutal leaders accountable for the devastation they inflict.
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