The Jalisco New Generation Cartel "Cártel de Jalisco"

"Let’s be honest, to make money is really hard. I can’t say how much I make, but it’s definitely more than what a doctor does here in Mexico, in five years, I see myself as Pablo Escobar," - 18-year-old unanimous CJNG member

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is one of Mexico's most powerful and ruthless drug trafficking organizations. Emerging in the early 2010s, it quickly rose to prominence by aggressively expanding its operations across Mexico and internationally. Led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as "El Mencho," the CJNG has engaged in violent confrontations with rival cartels and law enforcement, utilizing tactics such as ambushes, assassinations, and extortion to maintain control. With a sophisticated network for trafficking drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, the CJNG poses a significant challenge to authorities in Mexico and the United States. However, the CJNG's influence and grasp on Mexico may be loosened by implementing measures such as enhanced law enforcement, targeted counter-narcotics strategies, and policies that address root socioeconomic issues.

Jalisco, the CJNG’s headquarters, is located further south than Sinaloa, giving it an advantage when looking to expand and establish its operation in southern Mexico. While it is technically the youngest Mexican cartel, it is acknowledged to be the most influential as the CJNG has established a foothold in many advantageous locations such as ports and trade routes. According to scholar Samuel D. Henkin of the University of Maryland, “The geographic expansion of CJNG follows a specific spatial logic to ensure maximum profitability.” Some of these advantageous locations are Veracruz, Mazanillo, and Lázaro Cardenas.

The CJNG has quickly extended its influence by instilling both fear and reverence in the local population (Vista de Gobernando con violencia 2023). The cartel is infamous for their violent methods such as beheadings and public executions. The CJNG also utilizes technology such as drones to execute violent acts and social media to spread fear in their rivals (Criminal Drone Evolution: Cartel Weaponization of Aerial IEDS 2023). The use of military-grade equipment has increased the effectiveness of these attacks. Not only do they target individuals within the drug realm, but the CJNG have been traced to attacks on hundreds of public officials (Vista de Gobernando con violencia 2023).  

However, the CJNG has built some level of trust with locals by providing food and other necessities. For example, the cartel delivered food to communities during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (Vista de Gobernando con violencia (revistacientificaesmic.com). 

As a result of cartels’ territory disputes over drug routes, the states of southern Mexico are the poorest and most violent. Chiapas is a good example of this. Chiapas is in a strategic location that is desirable for multiple cartels. As it is located in the southern-most portion of Mexico, any drug traffic travelling from South America to the United States by land will most likely pass through Chiapas. As seen in the map below, the CJNG has a foothold in the state of Chiapas.

Recently in Chiapas, there have been violent skirmishes between the CJNG and the Sinaloa cartels. For example, on January fourth, there was another conflict that resulted in the death of twenty people and the displacement of over seven hundred residents of Chicomuselo and La Concordia (BBC 2024).

• CJNG can be traced back to the Guadalajara Cartel, the first major Mexican drug trafficking organizations under Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo.

• Following the demise of the Guadalajara Cartel, the Arellano Félix brothers formed the Arellano Félix Organization (AFO), based in Tijuana. Meanwhile, figures like Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada rose to prominence in the Sinaloa Cartel, based in the state of Sinaloa. 

• The Milenio Cartel emerged in the late 1990s as a successor to the Arellano Félix Organization (AFO) in Jalisco and surrounding regions.

• The CJNG originated as a faction of the Milenio Cartel, led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," and his close associates.

Strengthening law enforcement efforts and border security measures can help disrupt the CJNG's drug trafficking operations and dismantle its networks. This includes increasing funding for law enforcement agencies, improving intelligence gathering and sharing, enhancing cooperation with international partners, and deploying technology and resources to monitor and interdict drug shipments along trafficking routes.

The Merida Initiative, launched in 2007, is a bilateral security cooperation agreement aimed at combating organized crime, enhancing border security, and promoting the rule of law in Mexico.

Operation Jalisco was a joint operation conducted by U.S. and Mexican authorities targeting the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico's most powerful and dangerous drug trafficking organizations. Under Operation Jalisco, both countries intensified efforts to disrupt the CJNG's operations along the Mexico-United States border. This involved the deployment of additional law enforcement personnel, enhanced surveillance technology, and increased intelligence sharing.

Operation Jalisco demonstrated the effectiveness of collaboration between U.S. and Mexican authorities in disrupting the CJNG's drug trafficking operations and dismantling its networks. By combining resources, intelligence, and operational capabilities, both countries were able to significantly disrupt the flow of drugs across the border and weaken the CJNG's influence in the region.

Implementing targeted counternarcotics strategies focused on reducing drug demand, disrupting the CJNG's financial infrastructure, and dismantling its leadership hierarchy can weaken the cartel's operational capabilities. This may involve investing in drug treatment and prevention programs, implementing asset forfeiture measures to seize illicit proceeds, and conducting high-impact operations to capture or neutralize key cartel leaders and operatives.

El Salvador in recent years has taken drastic measures against gang and drug violence. Measures include mass incarceration for gang affilitation as well as incarceration for knowingly tolerating gang activity. Mexico can adopt a similar approach to this; however, their constitution may limit Mexico's power in adopting such policies.

Addressing the socioeconomic root causes that contribute to the CJNG's recruitment and expansion can help reduce the cartel's influence and support base. This includes investing in education, job training, and economic development initiatives in regions vulnerable to cartel influence, providing alternatives to illicit employment opportunities, addressing corruption and governance challenges, and strengthening community resilience against criminal exploitation.

As of 2024, Governments and international organizations have struggled to implement economic development projects in regions vulnerable to cartel influence. These low-income, under-represented areas encase their trust in cartels to flourish through promises of peace, re-investment, and security.

Governments need to introduce microfinance programs, small business grants, and agricultural cooperatives have been established to stimulate economic growth and entrepreneurship. By creating sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities, these initiatives reduce reliance on illicit activities as a means of income generation, thereby undermining the recruitment efforts of criminal organizations like the CJNG.

The drug infestation throughout Middle America has been an issue for several decades. However, the recent emergence of social media and technology such as drones has changed the operations and strategies within drug trade. The CJNG took advantage of this changing landscape and rose to prominence in the drug world. Their brutal and near-militant techniques as well as their utilization of technology allowed them to spread their operation over a large amount of territory in a short amount of time. They are now considered one of the most dangerous and most powerful drug cartels in the world. However, their influence can be mitigated by implementing measures such as enhanced law enforcement, targeted counter-narcotics strategies, and policies that address root socioeconomic issues.

“Cártel de Sinaloa Y El CJNG Se Disputan Ecuador.” Www.omnia.com.mx, 12 Apr. 2022, www.omnia.com.mx/noticia/243338/cartel-de-sinaloa-y-el-cjng-se-disputan-ecuador.

BBC. 2021. “Mexico’s most wanted: Wife of cartel boss ‘El Mencho held.” BBC, November 16, 2021.  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-59305476 .  

Buschschlüter, Vanessa. 2024. “Chiapas violence: Hundreds flee cartel battles in southern Mexico.” BBC, January 23, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68067681. 

Henkin, Samuel. “Tracking Cartels Infographic Series: The Violent Rise of Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) | START.umd.edu.” Www.start.umd.edu, www.start.umd.edu/tracking-cartels-infographic-series-violent-rise-c-rtel-de-jalisco-nueva-generaci-n-cjng.

Oshimaya, Sen Nag. 2019. “Most and Least Populated States of Mexico.” World Atlas, August 13, 2019. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-most-and-least-populated-states-of-mexico.html. 

Phillips, Tom and Analy Nuno. 2021.  “'An atmosphere of terror': the bloody rise of Mexico's top cartel.” The Guardian, April 2, 2021.  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/02/jalisco-cartel-mexico-rise-guadalajara .  

  ( FIU Digital Commons - Security Research Hub Reports: The Violent Rise of Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG)  ). 

“The Evolution of Cartels in Mexico, 1980–2015 in Mexico, of Cartels Evolution the 1980 1980 References.” Docslib, docslib.org/doc/7398296/the-evolution-of-cartels-in-mexico-1980-2015-in-mexico-of-cartels-evolution-the-1980-1980-references. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024.

“MSN.” Www.msn.com, www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/like-an-addiction-thousands-of-americans-fall-prey-to-mexican-cartel-timeshare-scam/ar-BB1iHqmz. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024.

Lohmuller, Michael. ““Operation Jalisco” in Mexico: New General, Same Police.” InSight Crime, 27 Mar. 2017, insightcrime.org/news/brief/mexico-selects-army-general-to-lead-operation-jalisco/. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024.

“Mexican Cartels Are Providing COVID-19 Assistance. Why That’s Not Surprising.” Brookings, www.brookings.edu/articles/mexican-cartels-are-providing-covid-19-assistance-why-thats-not-surprising/.

“El Salvador Moves 2,000 More Inmates to New “Mega Prison” | Fox News Video.” Fox News, 16 Mar. 2023, www.foxnews.com/video/6322685575112. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024.

Members of the Jalisco Cartel - New Generation. All rights reserved. [accessed 2024 Feb 8]. https://opendemocracy.net/en/democraciaabierta/mapping-mexicos-current-organized-crime-landscape/

“Cártel de Sinaloa Y El CJNG Se Disputan Ecuador.” 12 Apr. 2022, [accessed 2024 Feb 8]. www.omnia.com.mx/noticia/243338/cartel-de-sinaloa-y-el-cjng-se-disputan-ecuador.

 "Guadalara Cartel Chain of Command" 13 Jan. 2020 [Accessed 2024 March 1].https://preview.redd.it/jltvxfuat1i51.png?auto=webp&s=881ee1f65d47df6ac91ddbe69a2839a522557e0f 

“Mexican Cartels Are Providing COVID-19 Assistance. Why That’s Not Surprising.” Brookings, www.brookings.edu/articles/mexican-cartels-are-providing-covid-19-assistance-why-thats-not-surprising/.