The streets of Chicago were a major hub for “a significant proportion of drugs entering the United States,” until Project Python started six months ago. On Wednesday, 50 hardcore gang-bangers were squeezed off Windy City streets in a “relentless attack” on Mexico’s New Generation cartel. Overall, a nationwide roundup netted over 600 of the cartel’s soldiers.

Project Python squeezed out ruthless cartel

In a press conference on Wednesday, The Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration announced the results of a major nationwide operation which just pounced on the city of Chicago’s Public Enemy No. 1. They missed him but still came up with quite a haul.

Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, affectionately known as “El Mencho,” is infamous as one of the “most prolific methamphetamine producers in the world.” Tons of New Generation Cartel dope was peddled through “distribution hubs in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston and Atlanta.”

Wednesday morning, “federal agents conducted more than 100 search warrants, resulting in the arrests of more than 250 people associated with the gang and the seizure of 600 kilograms of drugs and more than $1.7 million in money and assets.” The six month total is even higher, 700 arrests, 20,000 kilograms of drugs and $22 million in assets.

Agents from the DEA-Chicago Division hauled away at least 50 Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación members locally while another 550 were rounded up elsewhere as part of the same operation.

“Project Python is the single largest strike by U.S. authorities against CJNG, and this is just the beginning,” advised Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. It’s all a part of the bigger mission to “disrupt, dismantle, and destroy drug trafficking organizations around the world and bring their leaders to justice.”

El Mencho escaped but not “Menchito” or his sister

El Mencho slipped away from his federal warrants for “numerous acts of violence, including murders, assaults, kidnappings, assassinations, and acts of torture.” The “specially designated narcotics trafficker” has a $10 million price on his head if you bring him in alive. His children weren’t so lucky.

El Mencho’s son, Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, also known as “Menchito,” and daughter Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, “are both being held in the United States on drug cartel related charges.”

Menchito is the organization’s second-in-command. He was extradited from Mexico last month. Two weeks ago, his sister “was arrested in the United States on financial-related charges in connection to violating the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation.”

Major meth producer

According to the Department of Justice, CJNG is one of the worlds top methamphetamine producers, responsible for “a significant proportion of drugs entering the United States.” CJNG runs “major” methamphetamine labs in Mexico “where it continues to increase its footprint.” They bring lots of other drugs along too.

Over the course of the investigation, authorities seized “44,000 pounds of drugs during the investigation, including 33,000 pounds of meth.” The New Generation cartel, they note, “controls a majority of street drugs sold in Chicago.”

“In Mexico, CJNG has used extreme violence, extortion and bribes to steadily expand control of the drug trade. CJNG is one of the two most prolific transnational criminal organizations trafficking huge quantities of illegal drugs to the Chicago Division.” Well, they were.