Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, June 16, 2026 – Mexico’s federal security chief said Tuesday that the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación still operates through regional leaders after the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.”
Omar García Harfuch made the statement during the June 16 morning briefing at Palacio Nacional. He said the cartel’s territorial structure helped prevent a wider loss of control after the February operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, where federal authorities said El Mencho was killed.
Federal security chief describes regional command
García Harfuch said CJNG still has “regional leaders” with defined territories. That structure, he said, helped the group keep operating after El Mencho’s death, according to coverage of the federal briefing.
He also said federal forces have continued making arrests tied to the cartel. The secretary did not release a new public command chart or list every leader under investigation.
One name drew attention: Juan Carlos Valencia González, also known as “El R3” or “El 03.” García Harfuch did not confirm that Valencia González now leads CJNG nationwide. He described him as one of the group’s strongest regional leaders.
Some reports have framed Valencia González as El Mencho’s successor. The federal statement was more limited. It identified him as a powerful regional figure while leaving the wider command question unresolved.
Who is Juan Carlos Valencia González
U.S. Justice Department records identify Juan Carlos Valencia González by several aliases, including Pelon, Tricky Tres, O3, El 3, JP, and Pelacas. A federal indictment in Washington, D.C., accused him of drug-trafficking and firearms offenses tied to cocaine and methamphetamine distribution.
The Justice Department announcement said the U.S. State Department had offered up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Recent reporting has also described Valencia González as a figure in the power vacuum after El Mencho’s death. Those reports link him to CJNG’s armed structure, but federal officials have not publicly confirmed him as the cartel’s top leader.
Sinaloa link described as weakened, not closed
García Harfuch also discussed CJNG’s relationship with Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.
He said the strongest detected link ran through El Mencho and involved financial and personnel support, according to reporting on the same briefing.
The secretary said federal authorities do not currently have evidence that the same relationship continues after El Mencho’s death. He also said the government has not ruled it out.
That is a narrow claim. Federal authorities are saying the old link has not been detected in the same way. They are not saying that the CJNG and Sinaloa factions no longer interact.
Puerto Vallarta’s connection
After El Mencho’s death, Jalisco saw fires, roadblocks, and security disruptions. PVDN reported at the time that Jalisco activated a red alert after cartel roadblocks. Federal security was later reinforced in Puerto Vallarta.
The most serious local case involved the Ixtapa prison complex near Puerto Vallarta. Twenty-three inmates escaped during the violence. PVDN later reported that four had been recaptured, while the search continued.
Puerto Vallarta also saw a separate CJNG-linked enforcement action in March. PVDN reported that seven suspected CJNG members were arrested in Puerto Vallarta after weapons, ammunition, and tactical gear were seized.
