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The cofounder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Erick Valencia-Salazar, pleaded guilty to international narcotics trafficking charges in a U.S. court on Tuesday.
Known by the alias “El 85,” the 49-year-old was admitted to conspiracy to distribute large quantities of cocaine for importation into the United States.
His plea follows a long legal saga involving two captures in Mexico and a high-profile extradition in early 2025, marking a significant victory for the Department of Justice in its campaign against organised crime.
Valencia-Salazar’s extradition occurred shortly after the U.S. administration officially designated the CJNG as a foreign terrorist organisation.
This designation reflects an intensified approach to national security, allowing for severe financial sanctions and prosecution for anyone providing “material support” to the group.
The former cartel leader, who rose to power following the fragmentation of the Milenio cartel, now faces a sentence ranging from 10 years to life in prison, with his final hearing scheduled for July 31.
The downfall of Valencia-Salazar comes during a period of extreme instability for the CJNG.
The cartel’s other primary leader, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, was recently killed during a military operation in February 2026.
That event triggered a brutal surge of retaliatory violence across Mexico, resulting in dozens of deaths.
As the organisation faces a leadership vacuum and increased international pressure, federal authorities continue to target its remaining high-level infrastructure.
