U.s. Offers $25 Million Reward Targeting Citizen Who Reportedly Leads Mexico's Most Powerful Cartel

MEXICO CITY — The U.S. authorities has offered a $25 cardinal reward for accusation starring to nan seizure of Juan Carlos González, aliases “Pelón,” scaling up unit connected a U.S. national who has emerged arsenic nan figurehead of Mexico’s astir powerful cartel.

The reward was bumped up from $5 cardinal Wednesday. The Trump management offered a full of $100 cardinal successful rewards for various leaders of nan Jalisco New Generation Cartel, aliases CJNG, and restricted nan visas of family members and business associates of cartel members.

U.S. officials said nan rewards, on pinch recently unsealed charges against 5 different high-ranking leaders, were aimed astatine crippling nan organization’s activity while President Trump has ramped up unit connected Mexico and different Latin American nations to transportation retired his information agenda.

“These blase organizations usage unit and fearfulness to support power complete nan importation of deadly narcotics successful nan United States, including fentanyl, cocaine, meth, and different forbidden drugs. Their actions dispersed unit and decease to our communities,” Acting Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche told reporters successful Washington.

CJNG is among 8 Mexican cartels designated arsenic a overseas violent organization. The group was dealt a rustle successful February erstwhile leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, aliases “El Mencho,” was killed by nan Mexican military. The U.S. provided intelligence for nan operation, which resulted successful a burst successful unit successful nan authorities of Jalisco.

González, Oseguera Cervantes’s stepson and a dual Mexican and U.S. citizen, is reported to person taken power of nan cartel, which is progressive successful everything from avocado accumulation to supplier smuggling.

Wednesday’s move comes a fewer weeks aft nan United States imposed sanctions against 50 group and companies linked pinch nan cartel, including González. The sanctions froze assets and blocked U.S. financial transactions pinch those cited.

The cartel is considered nan largest successful Mexico, pinch a beingness successful 21 of its 32 states. Its operations person extended to respective countries, including nan United States.

Trump’s management has ramped up unit connected nan authorities of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to ace down much heavy connected cartels, moreover threatening subject action against nan groups.

Among those charged successful nan recently unsealed indictments are Oseguera Cervantes’ erstwhile son-in-law, Julio Alberto Castillo Rodriguez, and Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytan, whom authorities described arsenic nan erstwhile leader’s godson. All of nan defendants are charged pinch supplier trafficking and firearms offenses, officials said.

“This is simply a conflict against CJNG that we are conscionable beginning, and we will not backmost down,” Terrance Cole, caput of nan U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, told reporters.

Janetsky writes for nan Associated Press. Associated Press newsman Alanna Durkin Richer successful Washington contributed to this report.