Who will succeed ‘El Mencho’ as chief of the Jalisco cartel? Friday’s mañanera recapped

President Claudia Sheinbaum held her Friday greeting property league successful Mazatlán, the apical tourer destination successful the bluish authorities of Sinaloa.

During a information update, National Public Security System main Marcela Figueroa reported that the regular homicide complaint successful Sinaloa successful January was 3.42, a simplification of 50% from the caller highest of 6.9 past June. Sinaloa — plagued successful caller times by unit related to infighting betwixt rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel — was Mexico’s 4th astir convulsive authorities successful 2025 successful presumption of full homicides.

Friday’s statesmanlike property league was held successful the Sinaloan edifice metropolis of Mazatlán. (Kathy Toynbee / Pixabay)

Security Minister Omar García Harfuch reported that 2,225 radical were arrested successful Sinaloa for allegedly committing high-impact crimes betwixt Oct. 1, 2024 — the time the existent authorities took bureau — and Feb. 15, 2026.

Later successful the property conference, officials responded to questions related to past Sunday’s subject cognition against Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) person Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, who died aft being changeable by soldiers successful Tapalpa, Jalisco.

García Harfuch: 4 imaginable successors to ‘El Mencho’ 

Asked who could instrumentality power of the CJNG successful the aftermath of Oseguera’s death, García Harfuch archetypal noted that the cartel has a beingness successful “various states” — i.e. the immense bulk of Mexico’s 32 national entities.

He past told reporters that the cartel has determination leaders, and revealed that authorities person identified the 4 “strongest” leaders wrong “this transgression group.”

García Harfuch said that those leaders — who helium didn’t place — are “under investigation.”

He subsequently said that 2 of those 4 leaders are considered astir apt to win “El Mencho” arsenic caput of the CJNG, mostly regarded arsenic 1 of the 2 astir almighty transgression organizations successful Mexico, the different being the Sinaloa Cartel.

While García Harfuch didn’t notation immoderate names, Oseguera’s stepson Juan Carlos Valencia González, a 41-year-old California autochthonal known arsenic “R3” among different aliases, is considered a starring contender for the enactment of the cartel.

According to media reports, different imaginable successors to “El Mencho” see Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán, known arsenic “El Sapo” (The Toad); Audias Flores Silva, known arsenic “El Jardinero” (The Gardener); Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, known arsenic “El Doble R” (The Double R); and Heraclio Guerrero Martínez, known arsenic “Tío Lako” (Uncle Lako).

3 soldiers were killed during cognition targeting ‘El Mencho’

Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla Trejo said that 3 soldiers who participated successful the cognition against “El Mencho” died from injuries they sustained during a gunfight with CJNG members tasked with protecting the cartel’s leader.

The Defense Ministry said past Sunday that 3 soldiers were wounded successful the cognition and subsequently airlifted to Mexico City for aesculapian treatment.

On Wednesday night, National Guard members successful Acapulco, Guerrero, received the bodies of 4 comrades killed connected Sunday. The authorities has confirmed that astatine slightest 28 soldiers and National Guard members died during and pursuing Sunday’s subject cognition successful Jalisco. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal / Cuartoscuro.com)

Trevilla said that 25 different members of the military, including National Guard officers, are presently receiving attraction successful infirmary for injuries they sustained past Sunday. During the CJNG’s convulsive effect to Oseguera’s death, cartel gunmen engaged successful confrontations with information forces successful states including Jalisco and Michoacán.

García Harfuch reported connected Monday that 25 National Guard officers were killed successful clashes successful Jalisco, portion different members of that information unit and others were injured successful the confrontations.

Trevilla said that lone 1 of the 25 hospitalized troops is successful a “serious-unstable” condition.

“Fortunately, the remainder are stable,” helium said.

In the “successful” cognition against “El Mencho,” Trevilla said that a full of 12 “criminals” who were changeable succumbed to their injuries. He said that 2 others were arrested during the cognition and are successful custody.

The defence curate said information forces killed “34 criminals” successful clashes aft past Sunday’s cognition successful Tapalpa, portion “around 70” suspected cartel members were arrested.

Gulf Cartel person arrested 

Trevilla Trejo besides responded to a question astir the transgression activities of Antonio Guadalupe “N,” an alleged Gulf Cartel person who was arrested successful Matamoros, Tamaulipas, connected Thursday on with 8 different alleged members of the aforesaid cartel.

Trevilla said that the suspect, known arsenic “El Lexus,” led a transgression compartment and provided information to José Alfredo “El Contador” Cárdenas Martínez, “leader of the ‘Los Ciclones’ faction of the Gulf Cartel.”

Gulf Cartel faction person Antonio Guadalupe “N,” known arsenic “El Lexus,” was arrested this week successful Matamoros on with 8 alleged cartel operatives. (National Guard)

“He was besides successful complaint of [drug] accumulation [and] cause trafficking to the United States,” helium said. “That was his main function.”

García Harfuch wrote connected societal media connected Friday greeting that the Mexican Army, the National Guard and the Air Force carried retired an cognition successful Matamoros that resulted successful the apprehension of Antonio Guadalupe “N,” and 9 different Gulf Cartel suspects.

He said that “El Lexus” is accused of extortion, kidnapping and the trafficking of weapons, radical and drugs successful Mexico and the United States.

Sheinbaum: ‘We’re with the radical of Sinaloa’

While improving the information concern successful Jalisco has been the apical absorption of the national authorities this week, Sheinbaum emphasized that combating transgression successful Sinaloa is besides a priority.

“We are with the radical of Sinaloa,” she said erstwhile asked what her connection was for families that person been affected by unit successful the state.

“And the full information furniture and the authorities of Mexico is moving with the authorities authorities to warrant bid and security,” Sheinbaum added.

“And each time we volition stay here, making our champion effort, … [doing] immoderate the radical of Sinaloa need,” the president said conscionable earlier the decision of her Friday mañanera.