The United States Department of Justice announced this Wednesday criminal accusations against five leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and offered more than $100 million in rewards for information leading to their capture, in one of the most forceful actions undertaken by Washington against the criminal organization.
During a press conference, Attorney General Todd Blanche reported that the accusations were filed in federal courts in New York and Washington, D.C., and are part of the strategy to combat trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs into the United States.
Among the main targets is Juan Carlos Valencia González, alias “El 03” or “El Pelón”, identified by the US authorities as one of the top leaders of the CJNG.
For information leading to his capture, up to $25 million is offered, the highest reward announced in this new offensive.
The rewards for the other four members of the top leadership of the criminal group range between 2 and 15 million dollars, bringing the total amount to more than 100 million dollars.
US authorities maintain that those accused play key roles in the international trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, in addition to coordinating financial and money laundering operations.
The Department of Justice indicated that this measure is part of a broader offensive against the CJNG, an organization that the United States classifies as a foreign terrorist group.
At the same time, the Treasury Department announced sanctions against dozens of people and companies allegedly linked to the cartel's financial network.
The US authorities reiterated that the information provided by possible informants will be treated confidentially and called for collaboration to dismantle the structure of one of the criminal organizations that they consider responsible for an important part of the fentanyl trafficking to the United States.
