Additional Coverage:
- Investigation of ranch in northern Mexico reveals some details of Jalisco cartel’s operations (apnews.com)
Jalisco Cartel: Inside the Operations of Mexico’s Ruthless Criminal Force
MEXICO CITY — A renewed investigation into a Jalisco New Generation Cartel training ranch in western Mexico has offered a chilling glimpse into the inner workings of one of the country’s most formidable criminal organizations. The cartel, boasting an estimated 19,000 members according to the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration, has rapidly ascended to become a dominant force in Mexico’s criminal landscape, known for its extreme violence and sophisticated operations. Its rise followed a split from the Sinaloa cartel after the 2010 killing of Sinaloa capo Ignacio “Nacho” Coronel Villarreal.
Recruitment Tactics: From Promises to Coercion
The cartel employs a multi-pronged recruitment strategy. While some are drawn to the promise of wealth and a glamorous lifestyle, others, particularly ex-military and police personnel, are specifically targeted for their tactical skills to train and lead cartel gunmen.
However, a darker side of recruitment has emerged through the ranch investigation. The cartel allegedly uses fake job postings on social media, offering attractive salaries for security positions, to lure unsuspecting victims.
These individuals are then forcibly recruited into the cartel’s ranks. Reports from survivors detail a brutal training regimen involving weapons instruction and physical conditioning.
Those who resist or attempt to escape face dire consequences, including beatings, torture, and even death.
Cartel Structure and Leadership
The Jalisco cartel operates under a hierarchical structure, with Nemesio Rubén “el Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes at its helm. Oseguera, the subject of a $15 million U.S. reward for information leading to his capture, recently resurfaced in the public eye when his image was projected at a music festival in Jalisco, drawing both cheers and condemnation.
Below Oseguera are regional commands overseeing drug production and distribution. The cartel’s influence spans 21 Mexican states and extends internationally to around 100 countries, rivaling even the Sinaloa cartel’s reach.
Rapid Expansion and Ruthless Tactics
The Jalisco cartel’s meteoric rise is attributed to its “capacity for violent action” and “irregular warfare” tactics, coupled with the emergence of the highly profitable fentanyl trade. Strategic alliances with other criminal groups have further expanded its territory through a “franchise” model, infiltrating areas like Aguascalientes and Tijuana. The Sinaloa cartel’s recent weakening due to internal conflicts and key arrests has also paved the way for Jalisco’s expansion.
Complicity and Impunity
The ranch investigation also highlights the cartel’s ability to operate with impunity due to alleged complicity with local authorities. Despite its discovery in 2024 and initial arrests, the investigation stalled until families of missing individuals uncovered evidence of potential atrocities. Subsequent arrests of local police officers suggest a disturbing level of collusion, enabling the cartel to eliminate rivals and solidify its control.