Érick Valencia Salazar, a co-founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in the United States this week. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed the plea, which centers on a conspiracy to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine across the border.
Known by the alias "El 85," Valencia Salazar was apprehended by the Mexican military in 2022. He was one of 29 high-profile alleged cartel leaders extradited to the United States in February to face prosecution.
A violent legacy
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) described the CJNG as a ruthless organization that operates through extreme violence. Officials stated that the group murders rivals to maintain control in Mexico while simultaneously flooding the United States with illegal substances.
"He helped build CJNG into a ruthless organisation that uses violence as a business model," the DEA said in a statement. The agency emphasized that the cartel's primary business model relies on both territorial control and large-scale smuggling operations.
Valencia Salazar faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. His formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 31.
This legal development follows a period of heightened instability for the cartel. In February, widespread violence erupted across 20 Mexican states after rumors circulated regarding the death of the cartel’s top leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho." Mexican security forces reportedly injured Oseguera Cervantes during a capture operation, and government officials later confirmed his death.
President Claudia Sheinbaum framed the operation against Oseguera Cervantes as a major victory for the Mexican armed forces. She cited the event as proof of her administration's commitment to dismantling the country's most powerful criminal syndicates.
Meanwhile, the United States has intensified its pressure on Mexican leadership to curb the cartel's influence. President Donald Trump officially designated the CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) last year. The administration argues that the group represents a direct threat to American public safety and the stability of the Western Hemisphere.
