Jalisco New Generation Cartel

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Spanish: Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación) or CJNG, is a Mexican criminal syndicate, based in Jalisco and headed by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes ("El Mencho"). The cartel has been characterized by extreme violence and public relations campaigns. Though the CJNG is known for diversifying into various criminal rackets, drug trafficking (primarily cocaine and methamphetamine) remains its most profitable activity. The cartel has been noted for cannibalizing some victims during the training of new sicarios or members, as well as using drones and rocket-propelled grenades to attack enemies.

CJNG started in 2009 as one of the splits of the Milenio Cartel, the other being La Resistencia. CJNG defeated La Resistencia and took control of Millenio's smuggling networks. CJNG expanded its operation network from coast to coast in six months, making it one of the criminal groups with the greatest operating capacity by 2012. Following emergence of the cartel, homicides, kidnappings and discoveries of mass graves spiked in Jalisco. By 2018, the CJNG was believed to have over 100 methamphetamine labs throughout Mexico. Based on average street value, its trade could net upwards of $8 billion for cocaine and $4.6 billion for crystal meth each year. The CJNG are fighting the Nueva Plaza Cartel for control of Guadalajara; La Unión Tepito for Mexico City; Los Viagras and La Familia Michoacana for the states of Michoacán and Guerrero; Los Zetas in the states of Veracruz and Puebla; Cártel del Noreste in Zacatecas; the Sinaloa Cartel in Baja California, Sonora, Ciudad Juárez, Zacatecas and Chiapas; as well as the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel in Guanajuato. They have an alliance with the Cártel del Golfo in Zacatecas and La Línea in Juárez.

CJNG is considered by the Mexican government to be one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in Mexico and second most powerful drug cartel after the Sinaloa Cartel. CJNG is heavily militarized and more violent than other criminal organizations. It has a special operations group for specific types of warfare. Its hitman training program is strict and professional. The cartel is best known for its fights against the Zetas and Templarios, it has fought La Resistencia for control of Aguililla, Michoacán and its surrounding territories.

Combatting CJNG is difficult because of police corruption. The retention and hiring of new police officers is poor, and many of Mexico's smaller communities prefer to police themselves. Vigilantism is one way in which communities resist the control of cartels and the government. Though the government has asked these groups to lay down arms, the vigilantes continue with some success. In 2019, US congressman Chip Roy introduced a bill that would list the cartel and others as foreign terrorist organizations. US President Donald Trump expressed interest in designating cartels as terrorists. However, he halted plans at the request of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. From 2018 to 2020, the CJNG engaged in 298 reported acts of gang-related violence; more than any other cartel. By 2020, US officials considered CJNG its "biggest criminal drug threat" and Mexico's former security commissioner called it "the most urgent threat to Mexico's national security".