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Will El Mencho's adopted son be the one to take the reins of Mexico's most powerful cartel?

2026-02-26 19:34:01Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Will El Mencho's adopted son be the one to take the reins of Mexico's
El Mencho

The state of Jalisco is struggling to recover after the military operation carried out on Sunday, February 23, in which the leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho", was killed.

The operation left 27 National Guard members and 46 traffickers killed.

David Mora, Mexico researcher at the International Crisis Group, says that what he experienced in Guadalajara the day El Mencho was killed was dramatic: the city emptied in moments, shops closed one after another, while more than 10,000 participants in a half-marathon were left stranded.

Only a small taco shop remained open, filled with citizens and police officers.

According to Moras, the police officers who lost their lives were faced with scenes of extreme violence.

While the military had taken precautions, the cartel's response was beyond all expectations. Violence spread across the country, from Jalisco to Veracruz and the state of Mexico, causing 250 roadblocks and dozens of deaths on both sides.

Mencho's body was immediately sent to Mexico City to prevent drug cartels from attempting to recover it.

The CJNG is now considered Mexico's most powerful cartel. It has advanced weaponry, including drones, grenades, and rockets, as well as the ability to create anti-personnel mines. It initially used trained mercenaries, including former Colombian soldiers, and then began forcibly recruiting young men from southern Mexico. The cartel controls drug production and trafficking, fuel theft, extortion, and migrant smuggling, while official corruption provides it with additional power.

A distinctive feature of the CJNG is its use of social media, especially TikTok, to showcase its military capabilities and recruit members. Meanwhile, the cartel does not hesitate to attack political figures, as demonstrated by the attempts to assassinate the Minister of Public Security in 2020 and the assassination of the mayor of Uruapan in 2025.

The biggest question remains: who will replace Mencho?

The cartel's local factions are dependent on its brand, and the lack of a strong figure can lead to disunity and violence. Also, rival cartels such as Santa Rosa de Lima and Unidos can exploit the CJNG's weakness to regain lost territory.

According to Moras, cooperation with the United States was essential: information was shared and security agencies were coordinated, but the operation was carried out entirely by the Mexican military, while the US maintained an advisory role.

Experts and media report several possible scenarios for the heir to power within the criminal organization: The main candidate is Juan Carlos Valencia González or El Pelón.

He is the adopted son of El Mencho, a dual US and Mexican citizen, and is considered the most likely candidate to take over the leadership of the CJNG after the death of the old boss. He has been involved in criminal activities since 2007 and is known as the second most powerful figure within the group's structures before Mencho's death.

Rosalinda “La Jefa” González Valencia, El Mencho’s ex-wife and one of the cartel’s financial leaders, is considered to be able to play a key role in supporting the transition of power to Juan Carlos.


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