The United States Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on five high-ranking members of Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the country’s most notorious criminal organizations.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted CJNG leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes and four of his top lieutenants, including Ricardo Ruiz, who is the prime suspect in the May 13 murder of TikTok influencer Valeria Márquez, who was killed while live-streaming.
Under these sanctions, all property and assets belonging to these individuals that are in the United States or controlled by U.S. persons are now blocked. Additionally, all transactions involving these individuals by anyone from or within the United States are prohibited.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that “CJNG’s reign of terror across Mexico and its trafficking of fentanyl into the United States has destroyed countless innocent lives.”
The CJNG is accused of producing and trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illicit drugs into the United States. The cartel also allegedly controls the deep-water port of Manzanillo in Colima state, which serves as a key entry point for fentanyl precursors.
Targets of the Sanctions
- Oseguera and Ruiz
- Julio Alberto Castillo (Oseguera’s son-in-law and potential successor)
- Audias Flores (a regional commander overseeing meth production across five Mexican states)
- Gonzalo Mendoza (known for recruitment operations and linked to the CJNG recruitment camp at Izaguirre Ranch in Jalisco)
The U.S. government is offering rewards of up to $15 million for information leading to Oseguera’s arrest and $5 million for information leading to Flores’ arrest.
For more details, you can read the full article on the Mexico News Daily.
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