El Mencho Overtakes El Chapo's Legacy as CJNG Becomes World's Most Powerful Cartel

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as "El Mencho," has consolidated his place as the most powerful drug trafficker in the world, as his organization, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has eclipsed the once-dominant Sinaloa Cartel by capitalizing on shifts in the U.S. drug market and the internal collapse of its longtime rival.

A Wall Street Journal's report, published September 16, points to rising cocaine consumption in the United States and a decline in fentanyl use since 2023 as key factors in the cartel reshuffle. Derek Maltz, former head of operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, told the paper: "El Mencho is the most powerful trafficker operating in the world today. What we are seeing is a pivot toward far greater distribution of cocaine in the U.S."

The U.S. government is offering $15 millon for information regarding his capture.

Cocaine Replaces Fentanyl in U.S. Market

Data from Millennium Health cited in the report shows cocaine use in the western United States soaring by 154 percent since 2019, with a 19 percent rise in the east. By contrast, fentanyl consumption has slowed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Analysts say cocaine's reputation as less stigmatized than synthetic opioids has fueled its resurgence.

Record production in Colombia has also played a role. The flood of cocaine reaching the United States has driven prices down by nearly half in the past five years, with a gram now selling for between $60 and $75, according to Drug Checking Los Angeles. Lower prices have boosted consumption and strengthened CJNG's market position.

Sinaloa's Internal Collapse

While demand shifted, the Sinaloa Cartel was unraveling. The arrest of longtime co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada set off a bloody feud between his son, Ismael "Mayito Flaco" Zambada, and Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán's sons, known as "Los Chapitos." Noroeste newspaper reported more than 2,000 murders and nearly 2,000 kidnappings in Sinaloa alone as the infighting escalated.

Facing weakened leadership, Los Chapitos struck a pact with El Mencho in late 2024. According to sources cited by the Journal, CJNG agreed to provide weapons, money, and fighters in exchange for access to Sinaloa's smuggling tunnels and routes into the United States.

The arrangement allowed Los Chapitos to retain control of fentanyl while El Mencho secured dominance over cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking.

Expanding Criminal Empire

According to the Journal, CJNG's influence stretches beyond narcotics. Security experts note the group extorts businesses in Jalisco and other states, imposing "taxes" on tortillas, poultry, cigarettes, and beer. The cartel has also penetrated the construction sector, winning municipal contracts, and has profited from the black market in stolen fuel.

The cartel's financial apparatus was dealt a blow this month when Mexican authorities arrested Óscar "N," described as a top CJNG money manager, at Mexico City's international airport after he arrived on a flight from Barcelona. Despite such setbacks, analysts say CJNG's diversified income streams make it more resilient than its rivals.

El Mencho's Elusive Figure

U.S. authorities have placed a $15 million bounty on El Mencho, but he remains one of the most elusive figures in organized crime. Law enforcement officials believe he rarely leaves his mountain stronghold in western Mexico, protected by the Fuerza Especial del Alto Mando (FEAM), a paramilitary unit armed with rocket-propelled grenades and thermal-guided weapons.

His growing dominance, however, places him squarely in the crosshairs of both Washington and Mexico City. Analysts say his rise mirrors the Sinaloa Cartel's peak under El Chapo before his capture in 2016. As the U.S. steps up counternarcotics cooperation with Mexico and cracks down on cartel financing, El Mencho and CJNG have become top priorities for dismantlement.

The cartel's ascent underscores how quickly the North American drug trade can shift. With cocaine surging and fentanyl under pressure, the criminal map has been redrawn. For now, the throne once held by Sinaloa has been seized by Jalisco and its shadowy leader El Mencho.