More than 600 people linked to one of the most powerful Mexican drug cartels have been arrested in the past six months in the United States, including 250 during a phone call Wednesday morning, authorities said. "Operation Python" is "the largest strike ever by the US authorities" against the Jalisco New Generation cartel, Uttam Dhillon, head of the US drug agency, said at a press conference. DEA.
"But this is only the beginning of our efforts to destroy this ultra-violent criminal organization" , which is flooding the whole world with various drugs, in particular synthetic drugs, he added. According to him, the arrests concern the "high and intermediate" levels of the organization, known for its pyramidal structure under the authority of its leader Nemesio Oseguera - alias "El Mencho".
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On the run for years, this 53-year-old drug dealer has been prosecuted in the United States since 2014 and a new indictment, accusing him of continuing his criminal activities, was revealed on Wednesday. The United States is offering a reward of ten million dollars for any information that would lead to his arrest. Meanwhile the net tightens around his family: his son Ruben, "El Menchito" arrested in Mexico in 2015, was extradited to the United States in February to be tried for drug trafficking, and his daughter Jessica Johanna said "La Negra" was arrested a fortnight ago in Washington where she is accused of money laundering.
Beyond these arrests, American agents seized 20,000 kilograms of drugs, including more than 15,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, and more than 20 million dollars in cash, said Mr. Dhillon. In October 2018, the American authorities estimated that the Jalisco New Generation cartel imported at least five tonnes of cocaine and five tonnes of methamphetamines into the United States each month. In Mexico, the cartel does not hesitate to attack military or police objectives to establish its hold. In 2015, members of the criminal group killed 20 soldiers and a policewoman in a grenade launcher attack on a military helicopter.