DEA Warns Mexican Officials Linked to CJNG: ‘No Position Will Protect You’

Washington — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a stark warning to Mexican officials who, according to the agency, help or protect members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and other drug-trafficking organizations.

The warning came from DEA Director Terry Cole during a press conference at the U.S. Department of Justice, where federal authorities also announced new criminal charges against alleged CJNG members in U.S. courts.

“Let me be clear: if you traffic in lethal drugs, if you profit from the suffering of others, or use public office to protect the cartels, this is your warning — the DEA is coming for you. No title, position, or political connection will protect you,” Cole said.

Cole said the investigations are not limited to people directly involved in drug trafficking, but also target public officials who enable criminal organizations or prevent their leaders from being brought to justice. He said such conduct facilitates drug trafficking, money laundering, and cartel-related violence.

Authorities did not disclose how many people were charged in the latest round of indictments, but described the cases as part of an effort to weaken the CJNG’s operations and finances. Cole said the cartel has contributed to the flow of drugs into the United States and to thousands of deaths linked to illicit substances.

The DEA’s warning comes amid ongoing U.S.-Mexico cooperation against organized crime. U.S. investigations often include charges of international drug trafficking, money laundering, conspiracy, and racketeering when evidence is sufficient to bring cases in federal court.

As of Wednesday, the Mexican government had not made a public statement on Cole’s remarks.

The DEA, created in 1973, is the U.S. agency responsible for investigating and combating drug trafficking. The CJNG is considered by U.S. authorities to be one of the most powerful criminal organizations trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other drugs into the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overdoses involving synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, remain among the leading causes of drug-related death in the U.S.