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While familial relationships can provide leverage and trust within criminal structures, succession in major cartels like the CJNG is rarely straightforward. Power is maintained through violence, loyalty, strategic alliances, and a demonstrated ability to control territory and operations.
Experts point out that the CJNG’s leadership model is not strictly hereditary. Historically, cartel bosses promote those who can prove themselves capable of handling territorial command, logistics, enforcement operations, and international trafficking networks. Mencho himself rose from humble beginnings, not through inheritance, but through a combination of ruthlessness and strategic acumen.
Yet El Chorro’s proximity to the family does offer him a distinct advantage — visibility, credibility, and a network of potential loyalists who may see him as a continuation of Mencho’s legacy rather than an outsider.
🧨 Other Contenders and a Fractured Power Struggle
El Chorro isn’t the only name being discussed as a possible successor. Following Mencho’s death, authorities have identified at least four significant figures within the CJNG structure who could also emerge as power brokers or challengers in the coming months:
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El Jardinero (Audias Flores Silva) – A dangerous and high-ranking operational leader with control over key regions.
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El Sapo (Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán) – Known for his role in recruitment and territorial management.
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El 03 (Juan Carlos Valencia González) – Mencho’s stepson, another family member with influence.
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El Doble R (Ricardo Ruiz Velasco) – A senior operator with significant regional influence in Guadalajara.
This lineup reveals a fractured landscape of potential heirs — family members, trusted lieutenants, and powerful regional commanders all vying for control amid uncertainty.