US announces more than $100m in rewards for eight Jalisco cartel leaders

The United States government has escalated its financial incentives targeting leadership of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a major Mexican criminal organization. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the reward programme, characterizing the initiative as part of broader efforts to dismantle cartels that have destabilized communities across the country. The administration framed the cartel's operations—which span drug trafficking, violence, and other illicit activities—as a national security threat requiring sustained pressure.

The CJNG operates across 21 of Mexico's 32 states and engages in diverse criminal enterprises ranging from agricultural production to narcotics distribution. The organization's current leader, Juan Carlos Gonzalez, assumed control following the death of his predecessor. Gonzalez, who holds dual Mexican and US citizenship, became the focus of the largest bounty at $25 million, a $20 million increase from previous levels. Seven additional cartel leaders face rewards between $2 million and $15 million each.

The reward announcement accompanied newly unsealed criminal charges against five alleged senior cartel members and visa restrictions imposed on 65 individuals with alleged business or family connections to the organization. These measures reflect the Trump administration's broader strategy of intensifying pressure on Latin American criminal networks through financial incentives, legal action, and diplomatic tools. The approach aligns with the administration's stated objective of combating what it characterizes as narco-terrorist organizations threatening American security.