Los Deltas, CJNG’s Coastal Armed Wing Led by ‘El Sapo’ Fuels Violence in Jalisco and Nayarit

Los Deltas is a specialized armed wing of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) that operates along the Pacific coast of the Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit. The group is commanded by Hugo Mendoza Gaytán, known as “El Sapo” (also “El 90”), who is described as a trusted lieutenant of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (“El Mencho”).

According to Mexican defense and intelligence reports, Los Deltas controls drug‑trafficking corridors, forced recruitment, illegal logging, arms smuggling and money‑laundering schemes coordinated with the cartel’s financial arm Los Cuinis. The faction is implicated in corruption of municipal police and violent clashes with rival groups and security forces. Federal agencies—including the Mexican Navy, National Guard and state police—have launched joint operations to dismantle the group. The U.S. Treasury recently identified Mendoza as the second‑in‑command of CJNG after Mencho’s death, and announced the capture of Juan Carlos Valencia González (“El 03” or “El Pelón”) as the cartel’s new top leader.