Érick Valencia Salazar, a co-founder of Mexico's powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in the United States. The US Department of Justice announced the plea, which involves a conspiracy to distribute at least 5 kilograms of cocaine. Valencia Salazar's sentencing is set for July 31, with a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
The CJNG is described by the DEA as a ruthless organization that uses violence as a business model and floods the US with illegal drugs. The cartel was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the Trump administration, which has intensified efforts to combat Mexican cartels impacting US security and stability.