A New Mexico man is among the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives for 2024, according to the latest update from the federal agency. The man, identified as Wilver Villegas-Palomino, is wanted for his alleged involvement in a transnational criminal organization known as the New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which is responsible for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States.
Villegas-Palomino’s Role in the CJNG
According to the FBI, Villegas-Palomino is a high-ranking member of the CJNG, serving as the regional boss for the states of Zacatecas and Aguascalientes in Mexico. He is also the nephew of Nemesio Oseguera-Cervantes, aka “El Mencho”, the leader of the CJNG and one of the most wanted drug lords in the world. Villegas-Palomino is accused of overseeing the production, transportation, and distribution of illicit drugs for the CJNG, as well as ordering and participating in acts of violence against rival groups and law enforcement authorities.
The FBI alleges that Villegas-Palomino was involved in the murder of two U.S. citizens in Zacatecas in July 2023, as well as the kidnapping and torture of a DEA informant in Aguascalientes in August 2023. He is also suspected of orchestrating several attacks against Mexican security forces, including a brazen ambush that killed 14 state police officers in October 2023.
The FBI’s Efforts to Capture Villegas-Palomino
The FBI has been working closely with Mexican and international partners to locate and apprehend Villegas-Palomino, who is considered armed and extremely dangerous. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the nearest FBI office or the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Villegas-Palomino is described as a Hispanic male, 5’8″ tall, weighing 165 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo of a scorpion on his right hand and a scar on his left eyebrow. He may use aliases such as “Willy”, “Willy Palomino”, or “El Zacatecano”.
The Impact of the CJNG on the U.S. and Mexico
The CJNG is one of the most powerful and violent drug trafficking organizations in Mexico and the world, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The CJNG has expanded its operations to at least 24 of the 32 Mexican states, as well as several U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, New York, and Atlanta. The CJNG is also involved in other criminal activities, such as money laundering, extortion, kidnapping, and human trafficking.
The CJNG poses a significant threat to the security and stability of both the U.S. and Mexico, as it contributes to the ongoing drug overdose epidemic, fuels corruption and violence, and undermines the rule of law. The U.S. government has designated the CJNG as a Foreign Narcotics Kingpin, and has imposed sanctions on dozens of its members and associates. The U.S. and Mexico have also collaborated on several joint operations to disrupt and dismantle the CJNG, resulting in the arrest and extradition of several key figures.
Conclusion
Wilver Villegas-Palomino is a New Mexico man who is among the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives for 2024, due to his alleged role as a regional boss for the CJNG, a notorious drug cartel that operates in Mexico and the U.S. The FBI is seeking the public’s help to capture Villegas-Palomino, who is wanted for multiple charges of drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping, and torture. Villegas-Palomino’s capture would be a major blow to the CJNG, which is one of the most dangerous and destructive criminal organizations in the world.