By Tiffany Williams –
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of State announced a major expansion of financial rewards targeting leaders and associates of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, offering up to $102 million for information leading to arrests or convictions as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign against transnational drug trafficking organizations.
Expanded Rewards Target Cartel Leadership
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs announced the reward offers under the Narcotics Rewards Program and the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program.
According to the State Department, the rewards target eight leaders and associates of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, also known as CJNG, and are being coordinated with the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the National Coordination Center.
Officials said the combined reward offers total up to $102 million for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of the targeted individuals in any country.
Reward Amounts Increased
The largest reward, up to $25 million, is being offered for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Juan Carlos Valencia González, also known as “Pelón,” who the State Department identified as the organization’s new leader following the recent death of his stepfather, CJNG founder Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho.”
Officials also announced rewards of up to $15 million each for Audias Flores Silva, Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán and Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez.
Additional rewards of up to $10 million each are being offered for Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, Julio César Montero Pinzón and Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela.
A reward of up to $2 million has been announced for Griselda Margarita Arredondo Pinzón.
State Department officials said the expanded rewards are intended to support U.S. law enforcement efforts aimed at disrupting the organization’s leadership.
Visa Restrictions Expanded
The State Department also announced new visa restrictions against 65 individuals identified as family members or close personal or business associates of people linked to CJNG who have been sanctioned under Executive Order 14059.
According to the department, 26 of those individuals previously held U.S. visas that have now been revoked.
Officials said a total of 93 visas have been revoked since the visa restriction policy was announced in June 2025.
Federal Enforcement Continues
The announcement comes alongside the Department of Justice’s disclosure of criminal charges against Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán, Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez, Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, Julio César Montero Pinzón and Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela.
The State Department said the reward offers are authorized under the Narcotics Rewards Program and the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, which support international law enforcement efforts targeting major narcotics traffickers and transnational organized crime.
Officials said the Narcotics Rewards Program, established in 1986, marks its 40th anniversary this year. According to the department, the program and its companion rewards initiative have helped bring more than 90 transnational criminals and major narcotics traffickers to justice while paying more than $200 million for qualifying information.