The United States is offering up to a $100 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) leaders. The figures at the center of the development are Juan Carlos Valencia González, known as ‘Pelón,’ 41; Audias Flores Silva, known as ‘Jardinero,’ 45; Julio César Montero Pinzón, known as ‘Tarjetas,’ 44; Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela, known as ‘La Firma,’ 40; Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán, known as ‘Sapo,’ 37; Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, known as ‘RR’ / ‘Tripa,’ 42; Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez, known as ‘Chorro,’ 49; and Griselda Margarita Arredondo Pinzón, 36.
“The American people gave us a mandate to keep this country safe, and we will not rest until it is fulfilled,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said of the reward. “Today’s unsealing of criminal charges against five high-ranking CJNG leaders marks another decisive step in our campaign to dismantle the cartels that have plagued this country for far too long. With these charges now public, and with more than $100 million in State Department rewards for the capture or conviction of eight CJNG fugitives, this administration will use every tool at its disposal to bring these defendants to justice – no matter where they hide.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is “hunting down, dismantling, and destroying Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación.” He added that the federal government is also “imposing visa restrictions on 65 individuals and revoking 26 visas of family members and associates of persons linked to the cartel.”
The United States recently secured a life-in-prison sentence for the 76-year-old co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
