MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥� The State Department on Wednesday offered a $25 million reward for information leading to the capture of Juan Carlos Gonz谩lez, or “Pel贸n,鈥� scaling up pressure on a U.S. citizen who has emerged as the figurehead of most powerful cartel.
The reward was bumped up from $5 million. The Trump administration offered a total of $100 million in rewards for various leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, and restricted the visas of family members and business associates of cartel members.
The State Department said it was aimed at 鈥渃rippling the organization鈥檚 leadership” while has ramped up pressure on Mexico and other Latin American nations to carry out his security agenda.
CJNG is among eight Mexican cartels The group was dealt a blow in February when leader Nemesio Rub茅n Oseguera Cervantes, or 鈥淓l Mencho.鈥� was . The U.S. provided intelligence for the operation, which resulted in a burst in violence in the state of Jalisco.
Gonz谩lez, Oseguera Cervantes鈥檚 stepson and a dual Mexican and U.S. citizen, is reported to have taken control of the cartel, which is involved in everything from avocado production to drug smuggling.
Wednesday’s move comes a few weeks after the Trump administration slapped sanctions against 50 people and companies linked with the cartel, including Gonz谩lez. The sanctions froze assets and blocked U.S. financial transactions with those cited.
The cartel is considered the largest in Mexico, with a presence in 21 of its 32 states. Its operations have extended to several countries, including the United States.
The Trump administration has on the government of to crack down more heavily on cartels, even threatening military action against the groups.
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