Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán: The Rise of the Toad in the CJNG Structure

U.S. security authorities have brought Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán, nicknamed El Sapo, to the forefront of criminological debate after American agencies identified him as a key operator within the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The Mexican Attorney General’s Office (FGR) recently confirmed that Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán is being considered a “possible” successor within the CJNG’s power structure, a designation that reflects his strategic importance within the criminal organization following the arrest of four cartel members in Jalisco and Nayarit states.

Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán’s Recruitment and Expansion System

During the first half of 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury carried out designations against CJNG operators, pointing to Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán for his role in strategies to recruit members for the cartel. U.S. security forces described his methods as “prolific recruitment strategies used to increase their foot soldiers,” emphasizing that this key CJNG figure had developed systematic enrollment systems.

The discovery in early 2025 of Rancho Izaguirre, located in Teuchitlán, Jalisco, demonstrated the operational scale of Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán. The complex, functioning as a training center, contained hundreds of clothing items, footwear, backpacks, and bone remains. According to security reports, Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán directly supervised these operations, ordering cartel lieutenants to instruct recruits in combat and coercive tactics against those who disobeyed.

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