Six Months After El Mencho's Death, Infobae Details CJNG's Reorganized Leadership — Names 'El Chorro' as Son-in-Law and Lieutenant

Marking six months since Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes ('El Mencho') was killed at Tapalpa, Jalisco (February 22, 2026), Infobae published a detailed reconstruction of how power has been redistributed inside CJNG. The outlet reaffirmed Juan Carlos Valencia González ('El 03'/'El Pelón'), identified as El Mencho's stepson and Grupo Élite commander, as having assumed absolute control of the organization — consistent with DOJ's August 5 confirmation and the $25M bounty on him. The cartel is estimated at 15,000–20,000 members operating across eight states (Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, Veracruz, Guanajuato, Puebla, Querétaro, and Hidalgo) under a hybrid hierarchical/franchise structure. The report named Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez, alias 'El Chorro' — previously known only as one of eight leaders in the DOJ/State Department's $102M reward package — as El Mencho's son-in-law and a lieutenant directly under El 03, alongside Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán ('El Sapo') as a trusted associate/military-wing counterpart. The piece also noted Audias Flores Silva ('El Jardinero'), previously responsible for operations across five states, remains detained following his April 27 capture. DEA Administrator Terry Cole reiterated that Valencia González represents the agency's 'priority number one' target.