What to Know About the Cartels Operating in Mexico

Following the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes ("El Mencho"), leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Mexico faces potential shifts in cartel power dynamics. Oseguera's death creates a leadership vacuum within the CJNG, which he built by forming alliances with smaller gangs. This void could lead to internal fracturing and rival cartels attempting to seize CJNG territories. Julio Alberto Castillo Rodriguez, Oseguera's son-in-law, is a potential successor, though the recent operation that killed Oseguera resulted in heavy casualties for the cartel. The Mexican government, under pressure from the U.S., is expected to continue targeting cartel leaders. The CJNG and other Mexican cartels are designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the United States.

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