US offers up to $102 million bounty for leaders of Mexico's Jalisco cartel

The US State Department has announced rewards totalling up to $102 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of eight leaders and associates of Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), according to an official statement.

“In a historic and decisive action in support of President Trump’s mission to eliminate narco-terrorist cartels threatening the American people, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is announcing reward offers under the Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP) and Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) totaling up to $102 million for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions, in any country, of eight leaders and associates of Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).  

These rewards are offered in coordination with the DOJ, DEA, FBI, HSI, IRS, CBP, and the National Coordination Center,” the statement read.

Last year, the administration of President Donald Trump designated CJNG as a foreign terrorist organisation. US authorities consider the group one of the most dangerous and violent criminal organisations in the Western Hemisphere, accusing it of trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine into the United States.

The statement also said the United States has imposed visa restrictions on 65 individuals linked to the cartel's activities.

By Jeyhun Aghazada