Overview

• Jose Gonzalez-Valencia, co-founder of the Los Cuinis cartel, received a 30-year federal sentence for directing multi-ton cocaine shipments and orchestrating cartel violence.
• Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa pleaded guilty to international money laundering, admitting use of shell companies, luxury real estate purchases and cross-border transfers to launder CJNG proceeds.
• President Trump’s February designation of CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization has empowered authorities with new legal tools to target cartel operations and affiliates.
• Authorities have indicted about 30 high-value leaders from CJNG and Los Cuinis, including seven top U.S. drug targets, while offering up to $15 million for information leading to Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera’s capture.
• Mexican authorities have extradited 29 cartel figures, including Rafael Caro Quintero, to the United States as they enforce targeted sanctions against CJNG commanders.