From September 22 to 26, 2025, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed a sweeping international crackdown on the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), resulting in the arrest of 670 cartel members and associates across seven countries. The operation, described by officials as one of the most extensive in recent history, also led to the seizure of over US$48 million in cash and assets, delivering a major blow to one of the world’s most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations.
The coordinated effort involved DEA agents from 23 domestic field divisions and seven foreign regions, targeting CJNG’s command, control, and distribution networks. Authorities confiscated 92.4 kilograms of fentanyl powder, over 1.1 million counterfeit pills, 6,062 kilograms of methamphetamine, 22,842 kilograms of cocaine, and 33 kilograms of heroin. Additionally, 244 firearms were recovered during the raids.
DEA Administrator Terrance Cole emphasized the agency’s commitment to dismantling CJNG, which was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization in February 2025. “Every arrest, every seizure, and every dollar stripped from CJNG represents lives saved and communities protected,” Cole stated.
CJNG operates in at least 40 countries, with thousands of members facilitating the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs. The cartel is also linked to widespread violence and corruption throughout Mexico and beyond.
Despite the scale of the operation, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that Mexico did not participate directly, noting that the enforcement actions occurred outside its borders.
The DEA reaffirmed its pursuit of CJNG’s elusive leader, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, who remains one of the agency’s most wanted fugitives, with a US$15 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Source: Radio Formula
