The Mexican drug cartel known as Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has issued an apology for the fatal kidnapping of four Americans in 2018, in a rare move by a criminal organization. The cartel, which is one of the largest and most violent in Mexico, blamed the killings on rogue members who acted without the approval of the leadership.
The apology was sent to the families of the victims, who were all Mormon women and children, on behalf of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the cartel’s leader who is also known as El Mencho. The statement was made in a video that was released by the Mexican authorities on January 30, 2021, and aired by Mexican media outlets.
In the video, a man who identified himself as El Mencho’s son, Rubén Oseguera González, said that the cartel regretted the death of the four Americans and offered condolences to their families. He also said that the cartel was taking steps to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
“We want to express our sincere apologies for what happened in 2018 in La Mora, Sonora,” Oseguera González said in the video, referring to the location where the killings took place. “It was never the intention of our organization to harm women and children. It was the work of a group of people who acted on their own without any authorization from our leaders.”
The apology and the admission of responsibility by the CJNG are a significant departure from the usual stance taken by Mexican drug cartels, which typically deny involvement in violent crimes and blame them on rival gangs or rogue members. The video also highlights the extent to which the CJNG has consolidated its power in Mexico and its willingness to engage with the public and the media.
The CJNG is believed to be responsible for numerous violent crimes in Mexico, including beheadings, kidnappings, and mass killings. The cartel, which was founded in 2010, is known for its ruthless tactics and its ability to infiltrate and bribe law enforcement agencies.
The four Americans who were killed in 2018 were members of a Mormon community that had lived in northern Mexico for generations. They were traveling in a convoy of three SUVs when they were ambushed by gunmen. The victims included Rhonita Miller and her four children, as well as Christina Langford Johnson and Dawna Langford and their children.
The killings shocked Mexico and the United States, and led to calls for increased cooperation between the two countries in the fight against organized crime. The Mexican government formed a joint task force with the US authorities to investigate the incident, which resulted in the arrest of several suspects.
The CJNG was not initially suspected of involvement in the killings, but its role was later revealed through wiretaps and other intelligence gathering techniques. The cartel was believed to have mistaken the group’s vehicles for those of a rival gang and ordered the attack.
The apology from the CJNG has been welcomed by the families of the victims, who have been seeking justice and answers for the past two years. However, some critics have expressed skepticism about the sincerity of the cartel’s remorse, and have argued that it is a ploy to improve the group’s image and soften its reputation.
The video has also sparked debate in Mexico about the role of criminal organizations in the country, and the need for a more effective strategy to combat them. Some have argued that the government needs to address the root causes of the violence, such as poverty, corruption, and social inequality, rather than relying on military operations and law enforcement tactics.
Others have pointed out that the apology is a rare opportunity for the authorities to gather intelligence about the CJNG and its operations, and to hold the group accountable for its crimes. The government has pledged to continue its efforts to curb organized crime and to protect the country’s citizens.
In conclusion, the apology from the CJNG for the fatal kidnapping of four Americans in 2018 is a significant development in the fight against organized crime in Mexico. While it remains to be seen whether the group will follow through on its promises to prevent such incidents in the future, the statement is a signal that criminal organizations are not immune to public scrutiny and accountability. However, it is important to remember that organized crime is a complex and persistent problem that requires a multifaceted approach to solve.