The new leader of Mexico’s deadliest cartel was born in California, which could make dealing with him significantly more difficult for the Trump administration.
The New York Post reports, “Juan Carlos Valencia, 41, who was born in Santa Ana, was identified Wednesday by US intelligence as the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, nearly five months after his stepfather, Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera, was killed during a Mexican military anti-drug operation.”
A $5 million reward for Valencia’s capture was offered by the US in 2021—and still remains open.
A US law-enforcement source spoke to The Post and said, “It should change the rules of engagement where we will not target. We’re not supposed to target, put a U.S. citizen in danger. He’s got dual citizenship. But his US citizenship should protect him from the typical protocol of launching an operation that would put his life in unnecessary jeopardy.”
“The US will never say that they’re the ones who coordinated an operation because it’s Mexican soil and its Mexican sovereignty,” the source added, saying that the Mexican government could use intelligence provided by the US to find Valencia.
“But it would be their operation. That’s the way to get around the citizenship thing if somebody wanted to get around it.”
Valencia’s father was the co-founder of the now disbanded Milenio Cartel.
Valenica came up through the ranks if the New Generation Cartel, becoming a member of “Grupo Elite,” the armed wing.
He became second in line to the leadership, after Audias “El Jardinero” Flores, who was arrested by the Mexican navy earlier this year.
Some believe Valenica set Flores up.
“After he was arrested, there were practically no acts of narco-terrorism — no roadblocks, no looting of stores, and no reaction whatsoever from the Jalisco Cartel,” a security consultant said.
“There was no significant backlash. This suggests that Juan Carlos Valencia himself was in on it and was the one who revealed El Jardinero’s location, thereby eliminating internal rivals.”
One Response
Refry his beans. 🔥 🫘 💀