United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Good morning, and thank you, attorney general.

Since its inception, nearly two decades ago, CJNG has grown into one of the world’s most dangerous and ruthless foreign terrorist organizations. CJNG was built on vast criminal networks that produces and distributes deadly drugs while sustaining its powerful influence via violence and corruption in Mexico. This includes members within the Mexican government – who shield CJNG’s leadership from justice and facilitate drug trafficking, money‑laundering, and violence.

CJNG’s actions have resulted in the deaths of thousands of Americans. Americans that were lost way too soon. They did this through their production and distribution of fentanyl: a weapon of mass destruction. DEA is aggressively targeting both the cartel and the corrupt government officials who are responsible for the deaths of our citizens.

Today’s coordinated actions against CJNG leadership and infrastructure — including superseding indictments, and rewards totaling more than $100 million dollars, and arrests, — will not end. It sends a very clear message: This is just the beginning. Under President Trump and Attorney General Blanche, this Administration will use every resource, every tool, to protect the American citizens. You see, this is about America first. This is about Americans first. This is a fight against CJNG that we are just beginning, and we will not back down. 

DEA investigations and cases have generated more than 100 federal indictments against CJNG leaders, members, and associates. We are working with our international partners, to arrest, extradite, and prosecute these defendants in the United States. Earlier this year, we saw the leader “El Mencho,” fall to his death during a Mexican military operation for his capture. El Mencho’s demise did not end CJNG; it underscored the organization’s resilience and the continued threat it poses.   

Based on DEA intelligence, the new leader — Juan Carlos Valencia González, El Mencho’s stepson, has taken control of the cartel. In our world, “El Pelon” is the number one priority of DEA. DEA is more focused than it’s ever been on dismantling CJNG and bringing its leaders, and members, and facilitators, and corrupt enablers to justice. 

Let me be clear, if you traffic deadly drugs, profit from the suffering of others, or use public office to protect the cartels, this is your warning — DEA is coming for you. No title, no position, or political connection will shield you. This includes cartel members like: 

“Jardienero,” who was recently captured in Mexico.

This includes: 

“Sapo,” Hugo Mendoza Gaytan, a sicario who runs sicario training camps deep in Mexico. 

This includes:

“Tarjetas,” Julio Montero Pinzon, this is the same subject who attempted to kill the current security director, Omar Garcia Harfuch, in 2020. 

They are relentless. But so is DEA, and so is this team standing here before you. These individuals represent different parts of CJNG and their criminal enterprise — but together they demonstrate why the U.S. response must be coordinated, must be comprehensive, and must be aggressive. Cartels depend on leadership, money, logistics, corruption, coercion, and networks across borders. And DEA and our partners here are targeting every such network. 

Our work is far from over. We will disrupt your networks, we will cut off your financial lifelines, we will seize your illicit profits, and we will work with our partners to save American lives. I want to stress — this is about America first. This is about Americans first.

I want to thank the attorney general, I want to thank the homeland security task force, the NCC, and our partners standing here today, because partnerships allow us to succeed. And success is our goal to protect and defend the national security of our country and our citizens. DEA is on the hunt, with our partners. 

God bless us, and God bless the United States. 

I would now like to turn this over to the FBI Director Kash Patel.