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The Government of Mexico indicated this Friday, as did the United States, that Juan Carlos Valencia González, alias “Pelón”, is the new leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) following the death last February of its founder, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”.
In a presidential press conference from the state of Zacatecas (central Mexico), the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, further affirmed that Valencia González has an extradition order and dual nationality.
“He does have an extradition order as well, and he has dual nationality,” the official noted, recalling that the Security Cabinet had already linked him following the death of El Mencho as the one who "stands out most among the regional leaders of the Jalisco Cartel."
The Treasury Department identified him in July as the new leader of the CJNG and maintained that he assumed command after the death of his stepfather, “El Mencho”.
It also described him as a long-time member who previously led an armed wing of the group.
On August 5, the Department of Justice and the DEA reiterated that, according to court documents and intelligence from that agency, Valencia assumed the leadership of the cartel.
Washington then increased the reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction from 5 million to 25 million dollars.
The State Department had already been offering a reward for Valencia since December 2021, at which time he was described as a high-ranking member linked to drug trafficking.
United States authorities accuse him of conspiring to manufacture and distribute cocaine and methamphetamine destined for the United States and of using firearms in connection with drug trafficking.
Harfuch had already outlined the succession following the fall of “El Mencho”.
“El Mencho” died on February 22 after being wounded during an operation by the Army and the National Guard to arrest him in the town of Tapalpa, in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. EFE
[Publicidad]