Mexican National Guard arrests brother of Jalisco cartel leader

By Jorge Antonio Rocha

MEXICO CITY(AA) - Mexican authorities announced on Monday that the National Guard captured Abraham Oseguera Cervantes, brother of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the violent and prolific Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG).

Abraham Oseguera, also known as "Don Rodo," held a significant position within the cartel's hierarchy.

The CJNG cartel is one of the largest criminal groups in Mexico and the world, responsible for the international trafficking of drugs, including fentanyl, and the murder of numerous victims in Mexico.

Abraham Oseguera was apprehended on Sunday in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, located in western Mexico and the home state of the Oseguera brothers. Following his arrest, he was reportedly transported to Mexico City, the country's capital, and taken to the Special Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO).

Founded by Nemesio Oseguera in 2011, the Jalisco Cartel ascended to become the most dominant criminal organization in Mexico by 2020, wielding influence in 21 of the country's 32 states and boasting 18,000 members.

The CJNG has been named by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as the leading actor behind the trafficking of fentanyl to the US.

The rapid expansion and dominance of the CJNG have contributed to Jalisco ranking as the fifth most violent state in Mexico. Domestic security agencies attribute the surge in homicides in Jalisco to the cartel led by the Oseguera family. Additionally, Jalisco leads in cases of disappearances, largely attributed to organized crime.

The CJNG's violence permeates across Mexico, as they engage in armed conflicts with rival criminal factions such as the Sinaloa Cartel to assert control over territory.

While El Mencho remains the cartel's leader, Mexican military intelligence indicates that various brothers and relatives wield significant power within the organization, making them targets of both Mexican and US law enforcement.

Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, or "La Negra," the wife of Nemesio and financial operator of the cartel, was arrested in 2021. Also, Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, his son, was arrested in 2015 and extradited in 2020 to the US.

Abraham Oseguera is the second brother of the CJNG leader to be arrested. In 2023, his brother Antonio Oseguera, also known as "Tony Montana," was apprehended in Jalisco.

The US government currently offers a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Nemesio Oseguera.