Elmencho: Leader of a Notorious Mexican Drug Cartel
Nemesio Osseguera Cervantes, often referred to as “Elmencho,” heads a significant Mexican drug cartel designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. He’s facing serious allegations of drug trafficking and conspiracy to commit murder, according to officials.
As the founder of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Elmencho’s organization has expanded rapidly from Mexico into small towns across the U.S., establishing strongholds to distribute drugs.
Elmencho’s involvement in drug trafficking dates back to the 1990s. Interestingly, he once served briefly as a police officer before returning to the world of drug smuggling. Reportedly, he worked with the Millenio Cartel, which later split into factions; he led a group known as “Los Torsidos,” which has now become prominent.
A federal jury has indicted him on several charges related to drug trafficking, distribution, murder conspiracy, and the use of firearms. DEA agent Kyle Mori estimates Elmencho’s net worth to be anywhere from $500 million in 2019 to possibly over $1 billion.
In February, the Trump administration formally recognized his cartel as a foreign terrorist organization and imposed leadership sanctions in June. This led to a substantial reward of $15 million for information leading to his capture. He is currently listed as one of the most wanted fugitives by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
“The reign of CJNG’s terror across Mexico and their fentanyl trafficking into the U.S. has devastated countless innocent lives,” stated Scott Bescent from the Treasury Department.
Former officials indicate that the cartel even employs children in illicit activities within the U.S. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that they use kids from regions like San Diego to transport and smuggle drugs.
The cartel has exploited loopholes in U.S. immigration policies that allow them to release most families apprehended at the border. After President Trump’s inauguration, it was reported that approximately 40% of such families vanished under the Biden administration.
During the trial of Elmencho’s son, nicknamed “Elmenquito,” the cartel allegedly sent spies to monitor U.S. officials in Washington, D.C. DEA special agent Matthew W. Allen noted that following the prosecution of Elmenchito, CJNG retaliated violently, attacking families and even killing informants and military personnel in Mexico.
In March 2025, a federal court sentenced Elmenchito, whose real name is Reuben Osseguera Gonzalez, to an additional 30 years for his role in the cartel. Court records indicated he had committed multiple murders and orchestrated an attack on a military helicopter in 2015, aiding in both his and his father’s escape.
Allen also highlighted CJNG’s presence in Los Angeles, stating that the city is more than just a distribution point; it serves as a base of operations for both the Sinaloa and CJNG cartels. These cartels exploit Southern California’s infrastructure for drug production, distribution, money laundering, and arms procurement.
During a raid on a CJNG warehouse in L.A., agents found an enormous mural of Elmencho, which served as a stark declaration of their influence: “We’re here and we’re in you.”
