US in an Unusual Situation, American Citizen Suspected of Leading the Most Dangerous Drug Cartel

The US Department of Justice is facing an unusual case in its efforts against drug trafficking.

Washington believes that the new leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the most powerful and violent criminal organizations in the world, is an American citizen.

He is Juan Carlos Valencia, 41, known by the nickname “El 03,” born on September 12, 1984, in Santa Ana, California. According to US authorities, he has taken the place of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” who was killed in an operation in Mexico on February 22.

After the death of “El Mencho,” the US officially designated Valencia as the new head of the CJNG and offered a $5 million reward for any information leading to his capture.

Valencia comes from a family with deep ties to organized crime. His father is Armando Valencia Cornelio, founder of the Milenio Cartel, while his mother, Rosalinda González Valencia, is considered an influential figure in the CJNG structure. He was later raised under the influence of “El Mencho,” who became his mother’s partner.

However, Valencia’s dual American and Mexican citizenship has created a legal obstacle for US authorities. US law places restrictions on military operations that could endanger the life of an American citizen, further complicating efforts to pursue him.

According to reports, one possible alternative is for US intelligence agencies to gather data and pass it on to the Mexican authorities, which would then carry out the operation to arrest him.

Experts underline that it still remains unclear whether “El 03” has fully taken control of the cartel, as rivalries and power-sharing divisions are said to exist within the CJNG.

Nevertheless, the fact that the US has declared him its top target shows that Washington now sees him as the most dangerous adversary in its confrontation with one of the world’s most powerful drug cartels.