The U.S. government has increased its reward to $25 million for information leading to the capture of Juan Carlos González, also known as “Pelón,” a key figure in Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The amount was raised from $5 million as part of an intensified effort to dismantle the organization’s leadership.

The CJNG is considered Mexico’s largest cartel, with operations spanning 21 of the country’s 32 states and extending into several other nations, including the United States. It is involved in various illicit activities, including drug trafficking and avocado production. González, who holds both Mexican and U.S. citizenship, is reported to have assumed control of the cartel following the death of its former leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” who was killed in a military operation in February. The U.S. assisted Mexican authorities with intelligence for the operation, which triggered a surge in violence in the state of Jalisco.

The reward increase comes amid a broader initiative by the Trump administration to disrupt the CJNG. In recent weeks, the United States imposed sanctions on 50 individuals and entities connected to the cartel, freezing assets and limiting financial interactions with those sanctioned. Among the targets was González.

Authorities have also unsealed charges against five other high-ranking cartel members, including Julio Alberto Castillo Rodriguez, Oseguera Cervantes’ former son-in-law, and Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytan, described as the former leader’s godson. All are charged with drug trafficking and firearms offenses.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the threat posed by such organizations, stating that they use violence and intimidation to control narcotics trafficking into the United States, including fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. He noted that the cartel’s activities contribute to significant violence and fatalities within communities.

The CJNG is one of eight Mexican cartels labeled as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has increased pressure on Mexico’s government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, to take stronger action against these groups, even suggesting the possibility of military intervention.

Terrance Cole, head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, affirmed the commitment to combating the cartel, saying the effort to dismantle the CJNG is ongoing and that U.S. authorities will not relent in their pursuit.