In August, two of El Chapo's children were kidnapped, then mysteriously released a few days later. They even shot down a military helicopter in May that year. Under El Mencho, it's been a bloody and violent rise: the most public in 2015 when they carried out several attacks on law enforcement in the state of Jalisco. They run drugs, but appear to have a special interest in producing methamphetamine. Not they're challenging them all over the country. Once they were seen as Sinaloa's little brothers. Statements that have been reported by some of the CJNG members who have been arrested have said that El Mencho is a ruthless man who does not tolerate disobedience and likes to be asked for forgiveness when he's going to kill someone, according to the Borderandbeat website.ĬJNC is thought to be the fastest-growing on Mexico's seven main drug cartels, in the past five years it has grown to come second only to Sinaloa. Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes is the prominent leader of the on-the rise Jalisco New Generation cartel, known as CJNG in Spanish. "I stopped being a drug trafficker in 1984 and will never be one again," he said. The 63-year-old fugitive said once known as "The Prince" claimed he no longer has any criminal relevance. "For him to be released after killing Kiki Camarena and a multitude of other people is a travesty of justice."īut the man himself has pleaded for "a second chance", telling Vice News in July he'd paid for his crimes, wanted to be left in peace and refuting reports that he is currently heading an assault on territory controlled by former allies in the Sinaloa cartel. He's described as a "psychopath", and if there's a prime example of El Mayo's belief his own capture won't dent the deadly drug trafficking trade, it lives in his deadly former Sinaloa sidekick Rafael Caro Quintero. "He has the ability, he is widely respected by the organisation, he knows who the sources are for cocaine, and other drugs, and has a great understanding in all the aspects involved in cultivation, transportation and distribution." Rafael Caro Quintero In a 2010 magazine interview, El Mayo said his capture or death would make "little difference" to drug trafficking in Mexico: "there would always be others" to take his place.įormer DEA international operations head Mike Vigil spent more than a decade working in Mexico, and described El Mayo as "one of the most elusive drug lords whom Mexico has targeted". He teamed up with El Chapo after El Chapo's first escape from jail in 2001, according to journalist Malcolm Beith's book, The Last Narco.
He's accused of murder, and ordering multiple executions, trafficking, conspiracy and violence.