After El Mencho's death, the names of the next potential leader of his d**g cartel, CJNG have been making rounds. Read to know who the top contenders are.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious d**g lord, known as El Mencho, was killed on February 22, 2026, during a military operation in Mexico. He was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and one of the world's most wanted d**g kingpins. He was killed during a raid in Tapalpa, in the central-western state of Jalisco, which is a stronghold for El Mencho's cartel, CJNG. He was seriously wounded during a shootout with the Mexican army and died while being air-lifted to Mexico City for medical treatment. His murder brought forth the question of who might succeed him.
Following El Mencho's death, the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) is set to face a major leadership transition. While the cartel has officially confirmed that there is no single successor, several high-ranking figures are considered probable candidates for the new leadership. The most talked-about person after the d**g lord's death is Juan Carlos Valencia González (better known as El Pelón, The Bald One, or El R3). El Pelón is the step-son of El Mencho, who has long been considered the second-in-command and natural heir to the empire.
Just like Mencho, Pelón is also a wanted criminal, and currently the U.S. State Department is offering a USD 5 million reward for his arrest. Besides El Pelón, Audias Flores Silva (better known as El Jardinero) is another strong candidate to succeed El Mencho. El Jardinero is a senior CJNG lieutenant. He was described by the Treasury Department as a CJNG Regional Commander who is engaged in 'd**g trafficking and violent activities'.
Jardinero is a top-tier commander within the organisation's inner circle and a high-value target, with a similar USS 5 million bounty to El Pelón. The third name in the race to claim CJNG's leadership is Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán (better known as El Sapo). According to the Department of the Treasury, he is a Senior CJNG Member and the boss of Puerto Vallarta Plaza. He is a key operational leader of the cartel, identified by the U.S. Treasury Department as a significant figure in its hierarchy.
Besides the above-mentioned individuals, another possible contender for the cartel's leadership is Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez (better known as El Chorro). El Chorro is El Mencho's son-in-law. As a senior lieutenant and part of the immediate family circle, he holds considerable influence over the cartel's strategic decisions.
El Mencho's biological children are less likely to have a shot at succeeding him. His son, Rubén Oseguera González (better known as El Menchito) was once his father's second-in-command, before he was extradited to the U.S. in 2020 and convicted in September 2024 for d**g trafficking and firearms offences. El Menchito was sentenced to life in prison in March 2025, which puts him out of the race to succeed El Mencho's d**g cartel, CJNG.
Mencho's daughter, Jessica Johanna Oseguera González (better known as La Negra) handled many of the cartel's legitimate business fronts but was arrested in the U.S. in 2020. Though she was released in April 2022 after serving a shortened sentence, her criminal record and past incarceration may limit her ability to lead openly.
El Mencho was a former police officer and avocado farmer, who later chose the path of crime. He rose through the ranks of the Milenio Cartel before founding the CJNG. Under Mencho's leadership, the CJNG became Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organisation, engaging in fuel theft, extortion, and human trafficking. At the time of his death, he faced multiple indictments in the US for trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. The US government had offered a USD 15 million reward for information leading to his capture.
What are your thoughts on El Mencho's potential successors after his death? Let us know.
Also Read: Who Is El Mencho's Wife, Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia? All About Her And Their Fortune Amid His Death