The Methamphetamine Legacy: How El Mencho’s Synthetic Strategy Shaped the CJNG

The rise of the Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG) is inextricably linked to the evolution of the methamphetamine trade. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," began his ascent by managing clandestine laboratories for the Milenio Cartel in the late 2000s. Following the arrest of his superior, Oscar Orlando Nava Valencia, El Mencho broke away to form the CJNG. While cocaine remained a staple of the criminal underworld, the new organization prioritized the production and distribution of synthetic stimulants, leveraging a shift in chemical manufacturing to dominate the market.

A critical turning point occurred in 2007 when the Mexican government restricted imports of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Rather than halting production, traffickers like El Mencho pivoted to 1-phenyl-2-propanone (P2P). This alternative precursor proved more efficient, cost-effective, and capable of producing higher-purity methamphetamine. This innovation fueled an unprecedented boom in supply that met surging global demand, with millions of users worldwide now consuming amphetamine-type stimulants.

Following the reported death of El Mencho, the organization faces a period of uncertainty reminiscent of the 2009 schism that birthed the cartel. The history of the CJNG demonstrates that long-term dominance in the narcotics trade requires both violent enforcement and an entrepreneurial ability to adapt to regulatory changes. As the group navigates a potential internal power struggle, its future will likely be defined by its continued mastery of the synthetic drug supply chain.