The Jalisco Cartel: At Its Weakest Point in History

“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat 

The autumn of 2026 is shaping up to be a historic moment. In the 16 years of the CJNG’s existence, it has never been this weak. It possesses the fragility of a vigorous body that suddenly discovers it is suffering from a serious illness: a year ago, it was the most important criminal group in the world, yet within ten months, it is exposing its open wounds.

The year 2026 began well for the "four letters" (CJNG): key figures like "El Limones" (of the Los Cabrera Sarabia faction), "Jaguar" (of Los Mayos), and "Sagitario" (of the Guasave cartel) had recently fallen. The Gulf and Santa Rosa de Lima cartels were also suffering losses. The *Jaliscos*, by contrast, remained robust.

But the year was barely twenty days old when the first spasms of trouble struck: Armando Gómez—the fearsome chief of the CJNG’s "Los Deltas" unit—was handed over to the U.S. in an expedited transfer that also included financial operator María del Rosario Navarro, known as "La Señora."

On February 22, the most violent news arrived: the head was suddenly severed from the body. "Mencho," the supreme leader, was killed in Tapalpa, Jalisco, alongside his bodyguards—including the son of "Tío Lako."

Just 64 days later, Audias Flores—alias "Jardinero," who had been tipped as Mencho’s successor—was arrested. The task of healing the wounded body fell to Nemesio’s stepson, Juan Carlos Valencia, who began the job facing a crushing blow from Washington: a $25 million bounty on his head.

The agony hasn’t ceased since: "Güero Conta," "Checo," "60," "R1," and "Señor de la T" have all been detained. At least 18 regional bosses (*jefes de plaza*) have been taken down. The leadership appears paralyzed: "Tío Lako" is in hiding, as are "Sapo," "Tarjetas," and "Firma." And without Mencho, the cartel loses an armed wing every month. The latest blow came this Monday: "Tanque"—the cartel’s regional boss for Veracruz, Oaxaca, Tabasco, and Puebla—was taken down. He is not merely a founding member of the CJNG but also a wealthy financier of fuel theft (*huachicol*), the cartel’s liaison to the Gulf of Mexico business community, and the alleged head of a corruption network reportedly involving brothers Luis Alberto and Amílcar Olán Aparicio. A political kingpin like few others.

It is a historic autumn: the once-formidable CJNG is weakening before our very eyes.

Source: Milenio