The Narco Family Tree: Who Are the González Peñuelas—The Kings of Opium?

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a series of financial sanctions against members of two distinct cells of the Sinaloa Cartel involved in activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering. 

One of the most notorious figures included on the list of sanctioned individuals is Jesús González Peñuelas, alias “Chuy González,” a criminal boss with nearly two decades of experience in drug distribution. 

For years, González Peñuelas has been identified as a priority target for U.S. authorities, as he is regarded as one of the largest suppliers of raw opium gum and heroin in northern Mexico. 

To consolidate this criminal empire, Chuy González has relied on the support of several family members, who are also now in the crosshairs of the U.S. government. But who are they, and what is known about them? 

In May 2021, the Department of the Treasury had already issued an alert regarding the operations of the organizations led by Jesús González Peñuelas. At that time, the group was described as an independent cell dedicated to the production and distribution of marijuana, as well as the transportation and sale of cocaine and pills. 

According to investigations, prominent among Chuy González’s associates are his brothers, Ignacio and Wilfrido González Peñuelas. Ignacio González—alias “Nacho”—was indicted in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado on drug trafficking charges; he is identified as a lieutenant within the criminal group, tasked with overseeing the security of drug shipments. 

Meanwhile, Wilfrido González—the youngest of the three brothers—reportedly serves as the manager of street-level drug outlets operating within the organization’s territory, according to investigative findings. 

In 2021, U.S. authorities warned that this criminal structure maintained its primary operational zones in the Mexican states of Sinaloa and Sonora, as well as at numerous ports of entry along the U.S. border. 

In its most recent report, the Department of the Treasury identifies Chuy González as the leader of an organization dedicated not only to drug trafficking but also to money laundering for the benefit of the Sinaloa Cartel. 

In addition to his operations in Mexico, it is alleged that the criminal boss established distribution cells in states such as California, Texas, Colorado, Washington, Utah, and Nevada. 

Source: Milenio