Mexico navy kills 'Chuy Peñuelas', cartel boss with $5 million US reward, in Sinaloa
Security chief Omar García Harfuch said Jesús González Peñuelas, a senior figure in the Guasave Cartel wanted by the US on heroin and fentanyl charges, died in a gunfight with marines in Sinaloa.
At a glance
- Mexico's Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, that Jesús González Peñuelas, alias 'Chuy Peñuelas', was killed in a navy operation in Guasave, Sinaloa.
- The US had offered up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest; he faced US charges of heroin trafficking and had been under US Treasury sanctions since 2021.
- Marines came under fire near the Alfredo V. Bonfil area and returned fire in a fight lasting several hours, backed by armed helicopters; a second suspect was also killed.
- Troops seized four stolen vehicles, three rifles, magazines and ammunition; the identification was described as preliminary.
Mexican marines have killed Jesús González Peñuelas, known as "Chuy Peñuelas", a senior figure in Sinaloa's Guasave Cartel for whom the United States had offered a reward of up to $5 million, Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch announced on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. He said the 56-year-old died in a gunfight with navy forces in Guasave, in the northern state of Sinaloa, along with a second suspected gang member.
What happened
According to García Harfuch, navy (Semar) personnel were attacked by an armed group during an operation near the Alfredo V. Bonfil neighbourhood of Guasave and returned fire. The confrontation lasted several hours and spread along rural roads towards the communities of Estación Bamoa, Estación Capomas and Siete Ejidos, with extra ground units and armed helicopters sent in. The operation began on Monday, October 26, and the death was announced on Wednesday.
Two men were killed: González Peñuelas and another suspected member of the group, named in reports as Cesáreo Peñuelas Ruiz. The security secretary said the identification was "according to available information", and the bodies and evidence were handed to the federal Attorney General's Office for forensic confirmation.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Jesús González Peñuelas, alias "Chuy Peñuelas" / "El Chuy" |
| Age | 56 |
| Group | Guasave Cartel (linked to the Sinaloa Cartel), led by Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, "El Chapo Isidro" |
| Place | Guasave municipality, Sinaloa, Mexico |
| Operation | Began Monday, October 26; death announced Wednesday, October 28, 2026 |
| Others killed | One more suspected gang member |
| Seized | Four stolen vehicles, three long guns, magazines, ammunition |
| US reward | Up to $5 million |
| US sanctions | Treasury (OFAC) Kingpin Act designation, 2021 |
Who he was
Mexican authorities described González Peñuelas as one of the main operators — some reports said second-in-command — of the Guasave Cartel, headed by Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, "El Chapo Isidro", himself one of the most wanted men on the US list. He started out with the Beltrán Leyva organisation before building his own network with ties to Sinaloa Cartel factions.
US authorities accused his organisation of producing and smuggling heroin, methamphetamine and counterfeit "M-30" pills containing fentanyl to markets including California, Texas and Colorado. The US Drug Enforcement Administration listed charges of conspiracy to import heroin and to possess drugs with intent to distribute. The US Treasury placed him under Kingpin Act sanctions in 2021, and US officials announced further measures against his network this year.
Background
Sinaloa has been gripped by violence since September 2024, when a war broke out between the two main Sinaloa Cartel factions — "Los Chapitos", led by sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, and "Los Mayos", loyal to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. Thousands of people have been killed or have disappeared in the state since then. Under President Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico has stepped up operations against cartel leaders and sent dozens of suspects to the United States, as Washington presses for action against fentanyl trafficking and has designated major cartels as terrorist organisations.
Reactions
García Harfuch said the operation was part of efforts to "pacify" Sinaloa and credited coordination and intelligence-sharing between Mexico's security agencies. US authorities had not publicly commented on the death by Wednesday evening.
Why it matters
The killing removes a senior figure in one of the networks the US blames for heroin and fentanyl reaching American cities, and is likely to be presented by Mexico as proof of co-operation with Washington at a time of heavy US pressure. But the removal of cartel leaders has often triggered new violence as rivals and deputies fight over territory, so Sinaloa's residents may face more clashes in the coming weeks.
What happens next
The Attorney General's Office is expected to confirm both identities through DNA and fingerprint tests. Security forces remain deployed in the Guasave area, and authorities have said operations against the group's leadership, including Meza Flores, will continue.
Questions people are asking
Who was Chuy Peñuelas?
Jesús González Peñuelas, known as 'Chuy Peñuelas', was described by Mexican authorities as a senior operator of the Guasave Cartel, a Sinaloa-based group linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. The United States accused him of trafficking heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl and offered up to $5 million for his capture.
How was Chuy Peñuelas killed?
Mexican marines carrying out an operation in Guasave, Sinaloa, were fired on by gunmen and returned fire in a clash that lasted several hours. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said González Peñuelas and a second man died.
Is the death of Chuy Peñuelas confirmed?
García Harfuch said the dead man was González Peñuelas according to the information available; the identification was described as preliminary and forensic confirmation by the Attorney General's Office was pending.
