The US State Department is offering a $5 million reward for the capture of Jesús GonzálezPeñuelas, also known as Chuy González. The information appears in a publication on the ministry's website last Wednesday (17).
Why is Chuy Gonzalez so important?
Chuy González is considered the head of an independent drug production and distribution organization that has existed since 2007. The organization is known for producing methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin and cocaine. Because of his illegal activities, González was charged with crimes related to international drug trafficking in Colorado and Southern California.
In May 2021, he was added to the US Treasury Department's list of most wanted drug traffickers. As a result, all of its assets under US jurisdiction have been frozen and it is prohibited from conducting financial transactions with US companies.
Chuy González's organization
González's organization operates primarily in Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico, but also has offices in several U.S. ports and multiple distribution locations in California, Texas, Colorado, Washington, Utah and Nevada.
According to the Treasury Department, González cooperates with other drug trafficking groups in Mexico and allies with known Mexican drug traffickers such as Fausto Isidro Meza Flores and Rafael Caro Quintero, who are also the subject of sanctions.
The highest positions in the hierarchy of Chuy's organization are held by members of his own family, including his brothers Ignacio and Wilfrido.
The crimes of Chuy González and his organization
Ignacio, one of the organization's top lieutenants, is responsible for overseeing the security of drug shipments. In 2018, he was accused of several drug trafficking offenses.
Wilfrido González Peñuelas is involved in the heroin and opium trade and runs street shops in the area of his organization. Efraín Mendívil Figueroa is one of the distributors of the GonzálezPeñuelas organization, which was accused in 2019 of trafficking heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Adelmo Nunez Molina, on the other hand, is responsible for the delivery of raw opium gum. He was also accused of several crimes in 2019. Raúl Payan Meraz oversees poppy cultivation, while Juana Payan Meraz is a partner in the drug trade.
The last known address of Chuy González, who is wanted by American authorities, is the city of Gabriel Leyva Solano in Sinaloa, Mexico. Information comes from Ivonne Valdés of CNN en Español.