I just read a pretty dense report about the power structure within CJNG now that El Mencho was recently killed. The interesting part is that there's a profile that's gaining attention as a possible successor: Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán, known as El Sapo.

This guy is not just any operator. According to what the U.S. Department of the Treasury documented last June, Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán is literally one of the masterminds behind CJNG's massive recruitment efforts. We're not talking about small numbers, but systematic strategies to bring people into the organization. They even discovered a training camp in Teuchitlán, Jalisco, the famous Rancho Izaguirre, which was under his direct supervision. The site contained hundreds of clothing items, shoes, and bone remains. That's where they trained new soldiers, and reports indicate Mendoza was the one giving orders to eliminate anyone who disobeyed.

What draws attention is that the FGR already fully identifies him as the potential heir. Last January, they made a parallel announcement: they captured four CJNG members in Jalisco and Nayarit, including José Gabriel Soto, who was reported to be under Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán's direct orders. That says a lot about the command chain already in place.

Most importantly, Mendoza apparently has the backing of El Mencho's family to coordinate operations. He controls armed cells and manages large-scale criminal activities, suggesting he's already functioning as a de facto operator. He also has a history of involvement in murders of Mexican law enforcement agents, so he's not a minor name in this world.

In summary, if anything happens to the CJNG structure in the coming months, Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán is probably the name you'll hear in intelligence reports.