Mexican Cartel Leader Pleads Guilty in US

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Erick Valencia Salazar, a former leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Mexico, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to traffic drugs in a Washington federal court. Valencia Salazar, known as 'El 85', was one of two leaders of the cartel along with Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho', who was killed in a Mexican army raid earlier this year. Valencia Salazar's conviction comes amid an acceleration of extraditions of Mexican drug lords to the United States since 2025.

Why it matters

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is one of Mexico's most powerful and violent criminal organizations, responsible for widespread violence and drug trafficking. Valencia Salazar's guilty plea reflects heightened pressure on cartel leadership in Mexico, with more drug lords being extradited to face charges in the US.

The details

When Valencia Salazar was first arrested by Mexican authorities in 2012, his cartel members reacted with widespread violence, hijacking and burning dozens of vehicles across the state of Jalisco, resulting in three deaths. As a cofounder and leader of the Jalisco cartel, Valencia Salazar was a key figure in the organization's drug trafficking operations. His conviction comes as part of a broader crackdown on Mexican cartels, with the US designating the Jalisco gang as a foreign terrorist organization last year.

• Valencia Salazar was first arrested by Mexican authorities in 2012.
• El Mencho, Valencia Salazar's co-leader, was killed in a Mexican army raid in Jalisco in February 2026.
• Valencia Salazar pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy charges in a Washington federal court on April 10, 2026.

What’s next

The US Justice Department is expected to continue its crackdown on Mexican drug cartels, with more extraditions and plea deals expected in the coming months.