According to an anonymous source connected to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Juan Carlos Valencia González — also known as “O3” — has reportedly stepped into a leadership role following El Mencho. O3 is said to run Grupo Elite, CJNG’s armed enforcement wing, and currently carries a $5 million U.S. bounty.

Here’s where it gets serious: reports indicate he was born in Santa Ana, California — potentially making him a U.S. citizen by birth.

If true, this development changes the conversation around cartel leadership, U.S. jurisdiction, national security, and the evolving nature of transnational organized crime.

In this breakdown, Kelsi Sheren analyzes:

– Who O3 is and his connection to El Mencho
– The structure and power of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel
– What Grupo Elite represents inside CJNG
– The legal implications if a U.S. citizen leads a Mexican cartel
– How birthright citizenship intersects with federal prosecution
– Why CJNG remains one of the most dangerous cartels in the world
– The broader national security implications for the United States

This is not sensationalism. This is a strategic look at what modern cartel power actually looks like in 2026.

CJNG continues to be a major force in fentanyl trafficking, meth production, and cartel violence across Mexico and the United States. A confirmed leadership shift would have serious implications for U.S.–Mexico relations, federal law enforcement, and cartel designation debates.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context of Mexico's Cartel Violence

00:25 The Alleged Leadership Change in CJNG

01:16 Carlos Valencia Gonzalez: The New Leader and His Background

02:05 The Significance of a US-born Cartel Leader

03:01 Legal Implications of US Citizenship for Cartel Leaders

04:00 Citizenship and Jurisdiction in Organized Crime

05:56 Cartel Violence as a National Security Threat

06:52 Impact on US and Canadian Fentanyl Crisis

07:19 Potential Outcomes of Leadership Transition

08:07 Modern Cartel Structures and Globalization

09:02 Implications for US-Mexico Cooperation and Policy

09:58 The Future of Hybrid and Transnational Organized Crime

Resources:

CJNG Official Website - https://www.cjng.mx/

RICO Laws - US Department of Justice - https://www.justice.gov/usao/justice-101/rico-act

Fentanyl Crisis - CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/fentanyl.html

Border Policy - US Customs and Border Protection - https://www.cbp.gov/

Global Organized Crime - UNODC - https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/organized-crime/index.html

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