Mexico's Top Security Official Lists The Potential Successors Of El Mencho: 'Two Are More Likely'

Mexican Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch detailed the potential successors of Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho and longtime leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, after his killing on Sunday.

Garcia Harfuch said two people are "more likely" to take the helm of the cartel, and they are already being investigated by Mexican authorities. He didn't disclose the names, but Infobae detailed who he could be referring to.

One of them is Audias Flores Silva, known as "El Jardinero" (The Gardener). Flores Silva has long been identified by U.S. authorities as a senior CJNG figure. The State Department last year announced sanctions against five Mexico-based CJNG leaders, including Flores Silva, stating that he "controls clandestine laboratoriesused to produce methamphetamine and other illegal drugs trafficked to the United States." The department offered "a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Flores."

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also mentioned Flores Silva in its indictment of a timeshare fraud network last week, saying it was led by CJNG and operated in part under his authority in Nayarit. Treasury described CJNG as "a brutally violent terrorist cartel" that has diversified revenue streams beyond drug trafficking, including through fraud schemes targeting U.S. citizens.

Another one is Juan Carlos Valencia González, the California-bornstepson of El Mencho. Valencia González, 41, was born in Santa Ana, California, and is a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen, according to federal records. He is the son of Rosalinda González Valencia, known as "La Jefa," who was married to El Mencho and has been described by law enforcement as a key financial figure within the cartel.

The U.S. State Department offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Valencia González's arrest or conviction back in 2021. A federal indictment returned in 2020 in Washington, D.C., charged him with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for unlawful importation into the United States and with using a firearm during a narcotics transaction. A DEA investigation alleged he was responsible for manufacturing, transporting and distributing "tons" of narcotics and organizing violent crimes.

Security analyst David Saucedo told The New York Post that Valencia González "still lacks influence among other cartel commanders" to consolidate leadership. Unconfirmed reports on social media have suggested he was already named successor, though those claims have not been corroborated.

Another person mentioned is Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytan, known as "El Sapo" (The Toad). He is alleged to have the backing of family members of "El Mencho," giving him legitimacy to try to take over.

The fourth candidate is Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, "El Doble R" (Double R). He is believed to operate in Guadalajara, the cartel's historical stronghold, and considered the second most important man in the organization in terms of real power.

Experts noted that CJNG operates with a decentralized structure, which could complicate any transition. John Kirby, a former federal prosecutor in Southern California, told NBC News on Wednesday that it remains unclear who will lead the cartel. "You have the stepson. You have a lot of other people who are vying for control," he said. "This is a very powerful cartel."