In the hyper-masculine world of Mexican drug cartels, power is often measured by the size of one's private army or the audacity of their violence. Yet the true strength of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has long resided in its ledgers rather than its rifles.
At the heart of this financial empire sits Rosalinda González Valencia, the wife of CJNG's leader Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes. Valencia is among the most influential women in the cartel business in Mexico, with many calling her 'La Jefa' or the boss, and her moniker is far more than a courtesy title.
Rosalinda González Valencia is best known to the public as the wife of Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes. The couple married in 1996 and shared three children, Jessica Johanna, Rubén, and Laisha Michelle.
Yet Valencia's pedigree within the criminal underworld predates her marriage. She is a prominent descendant of the Valencia clan, a family that built a legacy in the 'weed-growing and trafficking business' decades ago. This lineage provided the foundational wealth and connections necessary to elevate theCJNGto a global superpower. The Valencia family also founded the Cuinis, an adjacent money-laundering outfit considered something of a sister organisation to the CJNG.
Apparently, El Mencho served as the CJNG's supreme commander. His power was vertical and tactical, focusing on territorial expansion and military strategy.
Meanwhile, Valencia's power was structural and financial, serving as the backbone of the powerful cartel. She manages their assets and oversees their vast network of legitimate front companies.
Many believe that Valencia's role as the financial matriarch makes her equally essential to the cartel's survival as her husband's military leadership.
The legal saga of 'La Jefa' has been a focal point for Mexican authorities attempting to dismantle the CJNG's administrative core. She was first arrested in 2018 in a high-profile operation but was later released on bail after paying approximately £60,000 ($78,000). Her freedom was short-lived, as she was re-arrested in 2021 in Zapopan, Jalisco, facing charges related to the illicit operation of funds,BBCreported.
In December 2023, she was sentenced to five years in prison for money laundering. However, in a turn of events that sparked significant debate about the Mexican judicial system, she wasreleased earlyin February 2025 due to her good conduct.
This decision allowed her to return to her strongholds in Jalisco while her husband remained the target of a multi-million-pound international manhunt. Her ability to navigate the legal system has only reinforced her reputation as a formidable and untouchable figure.
Source: International Business Times UK
