CJNG cartel members indicted as US rewards top $100m

US authorities announced charges on Wednesday against five high-ranking members of Mexico's Jalisco New Generation cartel, or CJNG, and said reward money for information leading to the arrests of top cartel leaders would rise to more than $100 million.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the defendants were charged with crimes including running drug networks, organizing hitmen responsible for murders, procuring weapons, money laundering and manufacturing and distributing deadly drugs.

The State Department said the reward for Juan Carlos Gonzalez, known as “Pelon,” was raised from $5 million to $25 million. Gonzalez allegedly took control of CJNG after the killing earlier this year of his stepfather, cartel founder Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera. Rewards of $2 million to $15 million were offered for information leading to the arrest of several other cartel leaders.

The State Department also said it was imposing visa restrictions on 65 people described as family members or close personal or business associates of people linked to CJNG.

The Trump administration designated CJNG a foreign terrorist organization last year. US authorities accuse the group of running a global trafficking network involving fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Washington announced sanctions last month against more than 50 Mexican individuals and entities it says have ties to CJNG.