This week, the Mexican government transported 37 cartel operatives to the United States. This action seems to be an effort to address criticisms from the Trump administration regarding Mexico’s measures against drug cartels. Yet, despite this gesture, officials continue to safeguard Rubén Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the top leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel.
Mexico’s leading security official announced that a plane carrying the 37 individuals facing drug trafficking and federal charges was sent to the U.S. This marks the third instance where Mexican officials have bypassed standard extradition protocols, justifying it as a matter of national security. Earlier this year, over 90 cartel figures, including the infamous Rafael Caro Quintero—linked to the 1985 killing of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena—have also been sent. However, this latest batch largely consists of mid-level operators rather than top-tier leaders, making the cartel’s structure somewhat resilient.
Despite assertions from Mexico’s head of security, Omar García Halfucci, regarding drug seizures and enforcement efforts, there appears to be a reluctance to pursue leaders of the CJNG. Reports have indicated that authorities possess actionable intelligence about El Mencho, but attempts to apprehend him have consistently failed.
A significant obstacle in capturing him is the reported close connection between El Mencho and Mexican Army Secretary Ricardo Torrevira Trejo. There have been confirmations that active-duty soldiers are part of El Mencho’s security detail, obstructing previous capture attempts. In some cases, the military has claimed to confuse federal police for cartel members, which created chaos, allowing El Mencho and his group to escape.
