After El Mencho killing, U.S. still seeks these Mexican cartel leaders
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Police officers patrol a street filled with smoke in Colima, Mexico, on Sunday after road blockades and burnt vehicles were reported in several parts of the country following the capture and death of El Mencho. Photo: Leonardo Montecillo/Agencia Press South/Getty Images
President Trump hailed the U.S. intelligence-assisted security operation in Mexico that killed the drug lord known as "El Mencho" during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, saying: "We've ... taken down one of the most sinister cartel kingpins."
The big picture: Officials working to combat drug trafficking have had a successful week, with prosecutors in Florida announcing charges against a suspected leader of another terrorist-designated Mexican cartel.
- Fidel Félix-Ochoa, an alleged top Sinaloa Cartel leader, appeared in federal court Monday on charges related to allegedly "leading a large-scale drug trafficking operation responsible for moving fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States," per a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Florida.
- The 53-year-old Félix-Ochoa was among 37 Mexican nationals wanted for serious crimes in the U.S. transferred into American custody last month — the latest such extradition amid pressure from Trump for officials in Mexico to target drug cartels.
- But several key Mexican cartel leaders remain fugitives, including:
Juan Carlos Valencia González, aka El Pelón
The U.S. in 2020 offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Valencia González, an alleged leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), which the Trump administration designated a global terrorist organization last year.
- His stepfather Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, aka El Mencho, headed CJNG until he died during a Mexican security operation on Sunday.
- "El Pelón" is expected to succeed him in the cartel that the State Department says is "assessed to be the most violent drug trafficking organization (DTO) currently operating in Mexico with the highest cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine trafficking capacity."
- Valencia González was federally indicted in D.C. on cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking charges in 2020.
Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, aka El Chapito
Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, one of four sons of convicted Mexican drug trafficking kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán who are known as the "Chapitos," per a State Department post that notes it's offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.
- "All four brothers have been indicted across several judicial districts over the years for major violations of U.S. drug laws," the State Department says.
- He and brother Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar share leadership roles in the Sinaloa Cartel and its trafficking operations of fentanyl and other drugs, according to the State Department.
- That includes coordinating fentanyl trafficking into the U.S. and investigators believe this cartel is "largely responsible for the massive influx of fentanyl into the U.S. over the past several years," the post says.
- He's also responsible for the security of the cartel and commands assassins, who the state Department says "perpetrate violence to protect and further the Cartel's operations and vast holdings" and he's embroiled in a violent battle for control of the cartel.
Fausto Isidro Meza-Flores, aka El Chapo Isidro
Meza-Flores leads the Meza-Flores Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO), "a heavily armed and violent group which has engaged in gun battles, kidnapping, murder, torture, and extortion to maintain control of their territory," per a 2025 State Department post offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
- The group "controls important drug transportation routes as well as drug manufacturing laboratories and field locations" and has for over 20 years been responsible for smuggling "multi-ton quantities" of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana into the U.S., the post says.
- Meza-Flores has an outstanding federal indictment in D.C. related to the massive trafficking of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana, along with firearms offenses.
Ismael Zambada Sicairos, aka El Mayito Flaco
El Mayito Flaco is the son of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael Zambada García, known as "El Mayo," who's in a U.S. prison awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise and racketeering.
- The Southern District of California has an indictment out against Ismael Zambada Sicairos, who's believed to play a leading role in drug trafficking as a leader of the La Mayiza faction of the Sinaloa Cartel that's involved in the infighting.
Juan Reyes Mejía-González, aka R-1 or Kiki
The State Department in 2017 offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Mejía-Gonzalez — who's believed to be a high-ranking member in the Gulf Cartel drug trafficking organization, heading its faction Los Rojos.
- A 2008 federal indictment in D.C. charges him with money laundering and drug-trafficking offenses.
Go deeper: Mexico killed "El Mencho." Here's how and what we know about U.S. role
