Highlights:
Amidst being embroiled in the Iran conflict, American President Donald Trump’s tension has been increased by a US-born gangster.
The gangster’s name is John Carellos. Carellos has been appointed as the head of Mexico’s largest drug cartel.
This gang is involved in the rapid supply of drugs into the United States.
For Donald Trump, who is currently preoccupied with the Iran war, concerning news has emerged from America’s neighboring country, Mexico. The command of the largest drug trafficking gang there has been taken over by a gangster of American origin named John Carellos. Carellos is considered a dangerous gangster in both Mexico and the US. Following the death of “El Mencho” in a military operation in February, Carellos has been given the leadership of the largest group of drug traffickers.
Donald Trump considers this Mexican gang to be the biggest threat to America. Since becoming President, Trump has wanted to eliminate this gang, but the way Carellos has now taken command will further increase his headache.
Carellos: America’s Dangerous Gangster
Carellos was born in California. He is the stepson of Mencho. Since childhood, Carellos was trained in drug trafficking and its operations. After Mencho’s killing, he has taken over the reins of the gang. It is being said that all the loyalists associated with Mencho have now aligned behind Carellos.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had already placed a $5 million bounty on Carellos. There are now possibilities of this reward increasing. Carellos is considered even more dangerous than his father, Mencho.
The Big Question: Why Has Trump’s Tension Increased?
The CJNG (Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación), of which Carellos has become the chief, has its own empire in Mexico. This organization possesses a militia group, its own occupied territories, combat vehicles, and various types of weapons. This gang primarily remains in the headlines for oil theft and drug supply.
This gang supplies drugs coming from all over the world into America—mainly cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. According to estimates, this gang has more than 15,000 members.
The power of this gang can be understood by the fact that when the gang leader Mencho was killed, the whole of Mexico came to a standstill. At least 75 Mexican citizens were killed in the resulting violence.
CJNG: The World’s Most Dangerous Criminal Organization
Under the leadership of John Carellos, the CJNG (Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación) has now emerged as the world’s most powerful and dangerous criminal organization. The activities of this gang are not limited to drug trafficking alone; rather, it operates like a “shadow government.”
The primary activities of this gang are discussed below:
1. A Massive Drug Empire (Drug Trafficking)
This gang is the primary supplier of lethal narcotics smuggled into the United States.
Fentanyl: This is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more powerful than heroin. CJNG procures raw materials from China, manufactures it in Mexico, and sends it to the U.S.
Cocaine and Methamphetamine: They are experts in bringing cocaine from South America and producing meth in their own laboratories.
2. Military Might and Violence (Militia & Violence)
The gang possesses its own small army.
Advanced Weaponry: According to videos viral on social media, they possess bulletproof combat vehicles (Monstruos), machine guns, and even anti-aircraft guns.
Drone Attacks: This gang is known for attacking rival groups and police using drones equipped with explosives.
Oil Theft (Huachicol): They earn billions by stealing oil from Mexico’s government pipelines.
3. Influence and Expansion
American Connection: Since John Carellos was born in the U.S., he understands the markets and legal systems there very well, which poses a significant challenge for the Trump administration.
Social Influence: Frequently, this gang attempts to create a positive image by providing food and aid to local poor people, resulting in locals refusing to help the police in capturing them.
4. Transnational Crime
The web of CJNG is not restricted to Mexico or the U.S.; it extends to Europe, Asia, and Australia. They use a global supply chain to conduct illegal trade.
U.S. Response:
Donald Trump is considering declaring these cartels as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” which would allow the U.S. military to take direct action against them.
The U.S. government is preparing to take not just police action, but some stringent military and strategic measures against this powerful gang led by John Carellos.
The details of these military measures are as follows:
1. Designation as a Terrorist Organization (FTO Designation)
Donald Trump has initiated the process to declare these Mexican cartels as ‘Foreign Terrorist Organizations.’
Impact: If declared, the U.S. military can take direct military action against them. This will grant U.S. intelligence agencies more power to shut down the gang’s financial resources globally.
2. Border Militarization
Trump plans to deploy the military, not just the Border Patrol, at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Surveillance: The military is using advanced radar, sensors, and military drones that can track smugglers even in deep forests or mountainous regions.
3. Proposal for ‘Drone Strikes’
To destroy the cartels’ main hideouts and drug laboratories, the U.S. is considering surgical strikes or drone attacks. This technology could be used to capture high-profile targets like John Carellos.
4. Sanctions and Financial Warfare
The U.S. Treasury Department is conducting a large-scale operation to seize all bank accounts and shell companies associated with CJNG. This will weaken their capacity to purchase weapons.
5. Pressure on the Mexican Government
The U.S. is repeatedly warning the Mexican government to “cooperate or we will take action ourselves.” The U.S. is now exerting pressure to arrest Carellos through joint operations with the Mexican military.
Key Obstacle:
The Mexican government opposes the entry of the U.S. military into their country, as they consider it an attack on their sovereignty. Therefore, these military steps currently remain a major diplomatic challenge.
