Who will run 'El Mencho's' cartel? It could be a man born in California

The death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho,' leaves a power vacuum at the top of the Jalisco New Generation cartel.

Feb. 27, 2026 at 5:53pm

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The notorious head of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho,' was killed in a raid by Mexican soldiers. This leaves a power vacuum at the top of the multibillion-dollar criminal enterprise, with several regional commanders vying to take control. Among the potential successors is Juan Carlos Valencia González, also known as '03,' who was born in Santa Ana, California and belongs to a clan that runs the cartel's money-laundering operation.

Why it matters

The Jalisco New Generation cartel is one of the most powerful and feared criminal organizations in Mexico, trafficking tons of drugs to the United States and engaging in other illicit activities. The death of its longtime leader, 'El Mencho,' could trigger a bloody power struggle that fragments the cartel and leads to increased violence and instability in Mexico.

The details

Oseguera had delegated day-to-day control of the cartel to several top lieutenants who each managed a separate region. After his death, these regional commanders, including Juan Carlos Valencia González (also known as '03'), Ricardo Ruiz (alias 'RR'), Audias Flores Silva ('El Jardinero'), and Abraham Jesús Ambriz Cano ('El Yogurth'), are now vying to take control of the cartel. Valencia, Oseguera's stepson, was born in Santa Ana, California and belongs to a clan that runs the cartel's money-laundering operation. The cartel's horizontal, franchise-like structure has allowed it to respond rapidly to Oseguera's killing, but analysts warn that conflicts over profits, trafficking routes, and political connections could lead to the cartel fracturing.

  • Mexican soldiers killed Oseguera on Sunday in a raid on his remote mountain hideout.
  • Rosalinda González Valencia, the mother of Juan Carlos Valencia González, was arrested in Guadalajara in November 2021 and accused of being a 'financial operator' for the Jalisco cartel.

The players

Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes

Also known as 'El Mencho,' he was the notorious head of the Jalisco New Generation cartel until his death.

Juan Carlos Valencia González

Also known as '03,' he is the commander of the paramilitary Grupo Elite and belongs to a clan that runs the Jalisco cartel's money-laundering operation. He was born in Santa Ana, California.

Rosalinda González Valencia

The mother of Juan Carlos Valencia González, she was arrested in Guadalajara in November 2021 and accused of being a 'financial operator' for the Jalisco cartel.

Ricardo Ruiz

Also known as 'RR,' he is known for producing slick cartel propaganda, including a viral social media video showing cartel fighters.

Audias Flores Silva

Also known as 'El Jardinero,' he controls methamphetamine factories in Jalisco and Zacatecas states and has a fleet of airplanes and tractor trailers used to traffic drugs.

Abraham Jesús Ambriz Cano

Also known as 'El Yogurth,' he has built a small army of foreign mercenaries, mostly former soldiers from Colombia, to fight for the Jalisco cartel.

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The takeaway

The death of 'El Mencho' leaves the Jalisco New Generation cartel, one of Mexico's most powerful and violent criminal organizations, in a state of uncertainty. The potential successors, including a man born in California, will likely engage in a power struggle that could further destabilize the country and lead to increased bloodshed.