United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MIAMI – The Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration today announced the results of Project Python, a DEA-led multilateral interagency operation encompassing all global investigations and related disruption activities targeting the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).  

This announcement marks the successful conclusion of six months of investigative and enforcement activity targeting CJNG, culminating in large scale arrests throughout the country within the past week. Project Python has resulted in the arrests of more than 600 CJNG associates, 350 indictments, as well as significant seizures of money and drugs.  

“Project Python is the single largest strike by U.S. authorities against CJNG, and this is just the beginning,” said Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “This strategic and coordinated project exemplifies DEA’s mission: to disrupt, dismantle, and destroy drug trafficking organizations around the world and bring their leaders to justice.  Today, DEA has disrupted CJNG’s operations, and there is more to come as DEA continues its relentless attack on this remorseless criminal organization.” 

“Project Python marks the most comprehensive action to date in the Department of Justice’s campaign to disrupt, dismantle, and ultimately destroy CJNG,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Criminal Division.  “When President Trump signed an Executive Order prioritizing the dismantlement of transnational criminal organizations, the Department of Justice answered the call and took direct aim at CJNG.  We deemed CJNG one of the highest-priority transnational organized crime threats we face.  And with Project Python, we are delivering results in the face of that threat for the American people.” 

“The CJNG is the greatest criminal drug threat to the United States.  Its poly-drug trafficking activities in Florida has sparked increases in the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl throughout the entire state.  In addition, its propensity to engage in extreme violence to ensure the completion of its operations, intensifies the severity of that threat.” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Kevin W. Carter.  “The Miami Field Division is ever so cognizant of the dangers this organization presents.  We remain keenly vigilant in our efforts to combat it by working with our law enforcement partners, both nationally and internationally, to protect Florida’s communities from being harmed and destroyed.”   

The Justice Department and its law enforcement partners are committed to fulfilling the President’s Executive Order 13773 to identify, interdict, disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations. The department designated CNJG as one of the top transnational criminal groups targeted as part of carrying out this executive order, and DEA instituted Project Python as part of this ongoing effort.   

CJNG is one of the fastest growing transnational criminal organizations in Mexico, and among the most prolific methamphetamine producers in the world. It is responsible for a significant proportion of drugs entering the United States, and elevated levels of violence in Mexico. With methamphetamine abuse and overdose deaths on the rise, Project Python aims to disrupt CJNG’s ability to distribute methamphetamine and other drugs throughout the United States by attacking the group at all levels.   

Federal law enforcement has taken a number of steps to degrade CJNG’s ability to operate in the United States. Today, the Justice Department and DEA announced a superseding indictment on charges of alleged continuing criminal enterprise against Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” the undisputed leader of CJNG. Last month, El Mencho’s son, Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, also known as “Menchito,” and second in command of CJNG, was extradited from Mexico to the United States on charges of alleged drug trafficking and firearm use in relation to drug trafficking activities. On Feb. 26, 2020, El Mencho’s daughter, Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, was arrested in the United States on financial charges related to her alleged criminal violation of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. 

Additionally, DEA has worked with its interagency partners to apply further pressure to CJNG.  The U.S. Department of Treasury has designated El Mencho as a “specially designated narcotics trafficker” pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, and the U.S. Department of State has issued one of the largest narcotics rewards ever – $10 million – for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho.    

In 2018, there were over 5,500 opioid-related deaths in Florida, according to the Florida Medical Examiners.  Fentanyl, increasingly sourced from Mexico, caused more deaths than any other drug.  Methamphetamine deaths increased by 23% in one year and seizures of methamphetamine equally rose over 500% in one year.  Heroin availability, which jumped considerably over the past five years, remains at an alarming level.  Cocaine has resurged nationwide and remains a top threat in Florida.  Heightened levels of coca cultivation and cocaine production in Colombia, the primary source for cocaine seized in the United States, has driven down the price of cocaine while increasing its availability.  In 2018, cocaine was determined to be the cause of over 1,600 drug overdose fatalities in Florida.   

Since the start of Operation Python, Miami Field Division investigations have produced 15 indictments with 31 anticipated arrests.  Enforcement operations so far have resulted in the seizure of $350,000 and multi-kilograms of cocaine.   

The efforts highlighted in the more than 600 arrests nationwide are illustrative of the significant reach the CJNG has in manufacturing, importing, and distributing a wide array of illegal narcotics within the United States and the negative impact on the fabric of our local communities. The proceeds from the local distribution of these narcotics are repatriated back to Mexico and further fuel transnational organized crime organizations such as the CJNG. The Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners will continue to vigorously fight this scourge against the United States.   

The Department of Justice’s multi-agency Special Operations Division, federal prosecutors from the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section of the Department’s Criminal Division, the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and Office of Enforcement Operations provided invaluable support to this operation.