US announces more than $100m in rewards for eight Jalisco cartel leaders

The Trump administration announced over $100 million in rewards for information leading to the arrest or conviction of eight leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated the initiative aims to weaken cartels that import deadly narcotics into the U.S. The largest reward, $25 million, is for information on the cartel's new leader, Juan Carlos Gonzalez. These bounties complement unsealed criminal charges and visa restrictions against individuals with cartel ties. The administration's hardline approach includes labeling cartels as "foreign terrorist organizations" and has pressured Latin American leaders to adopt more militarized crime-fighting strategies.

The U.S. State Department has increased its reward to $25 million for information leading to the capture of Juan Carlos González, also known as "Pelón," who is reportedly leading Mexico's most powerful cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). This move is part of the Trump administration's broader strategy to cripple the cartel's leadership, which has included offering a total of $100 million in rewards for various leaders and imposing visa restrictions on their associates. González, a dual Mexican and U.S. citizen and the stepson of the cartel's former leader, "El Mencho," is believed to have taken control after El Mencho's death in February. The CJNG is designated as a foreign terrorist organization and operates across Mexico and internationally. The administration also recently imposed sanctions on individuals and companies linked to the cartel.