In recent months, the presence of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) at Jalisco’s patron saint festivals has become increasingly prominent. From musical events to rodeos (ball matches), the criminal organization has found in these spaces an opportunity to demonstrate its power, promote its image, and consolidate its territorial dominance.
The CJNG, led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” has extended its control beyond drug trafficking, also entering legal and semi-legal businesses in Jalisco’s municipalities. One of the hardest hit sectors has been beer sales and the organization of shows during patron saint festivals and carnivals, where the criminal group has found an inexhaustible source of income and a platform to strengthen its social influence.
According to government sources cited by the newspaper Milenio, the CJNG has established its dominance over beer sales at most municipal festivals in Jalisco. Through front men and direct pressure on local authorities, the criminal group decides who receives temporary concessions to sell alcoholic beverages, thus guaranteeing absolute control over this activity.
The most recent and obvious case occurred during the Autlán de Navarro Carnival, where videos circulating on social media showed street vendors forced to wear aprons with the image of “El Mencho” and to draw the CJNG acronym in their hair.
According to the aforementioned media outlet, the state prosecutor’s office already suspected this involvement, but it was only with this event that they were able to confirm it.
In addition to controlling alcohol sales, the CJNG has also seized the profits from the box office of rodeo and bullfighting events. In many cases, the companies in charge of booking artists and event logistics are managed by cartel operators, allowing them not only to obtain direct income but also to control the narrative of these events and promote their public image.
One of the most striking episodes in this context occurred on February 28 at the Alberto Balderas Bullring in Autlán de Navarro, where during a rodeo competition, a rider received 50,000 pesos, supposedly from “El Señor de los Gallos,” another nickname associated with the CJNG leader. The presentation of the money was announced by the event’s host to a cheering crowd.
“They say that the hands that give will never remain empty. And today and tonight, there is a man who wants to thank you for your bravery, your valor, your skill, for everything you’ve been through. Here in my hand, I have 50,000 pesos, and El Señor de los Gallos gives them to you with all his heart,” exclaimed the host, while the rider raised his arms in gratitude.
These types of events have been a constant feature of recent festivities in the state and other regions of the country. In January 2025, in the community of Tinaja de Vargas, Michoacán, a party was held in honor of “El Mencho,” with fireworks in the shape of roosters and the acronym CJNG. The evening’s music included narcocorridos glorifying the criminal leader, reinforcing his cult of personality among the population.
The last recorded event was the patron saint festivities of San José del Carmen. Videos posted on social media on March 18 show a musical group performing “El del Palenque,” a narcocorrido that directly mentions “El Mencho” and the CJNG. Attendees sang along, demonstrating the acceptance the criminal leader’s image has gained in some communities.
Similar events have also been reported nationwide. In December 2024, in
Similar events have also been reported nationwide. In December 2024, in Coalcomán, Michoacán, members of the CJNG organized a celebration where they distributed gifts to children and families in the name of “El Mencho.” Similar acts were documented in Aguascalientes and Tabasco in early 2025, where toy and food distributions were recorded under the supervision of armed men.
Despite the growing visibility of these acts and the evident presence of the CJNG in local festivities, federal and state authorities have remained silent. To date, there have been no official statements regarding the distribution of money in the name of “El Mencho” or the promotion of drug trafficking at public events.
The only case in which a formal investigation has been launched is in Coalcomán, where the State Attorney General’s Office has accused Mayor Anavel Ávila Castrejón of alleged complicity in events organized by the CJNG.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) maintains a $15 million reward for information leading to the capture of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, considered one of the world’s most wanted criminals and the undisputed leader of the CJNG (CJNG), an organization that has infiltrated all levels of public life in several regions of Mexico.
Souce: infobae
