US Offers $5 Million Reward for Mexican Drug Trafficker Gonzalez-Penuelas
The US Department of State has announced a reward of up to $5 million (443.2 million rubles) for information leading to the capture of Mexican drug trafficker Jesus Gonzalez-Penuelas, also known as Gonzalez from Chuya. He is wanted for trafficking marijuana and other drugs.
Gonzalez-Penuelas Accused of Leading Major Drug Operations
Gonzalez-Penuelas is accused in the United States of creating an organized crime group involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. The group is also suspected of transporting and selling M-30 fentanyl pills disguised as the painkiller “Oxycodone.” According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Jesus is believed to be operating from the northern part of Sinaloa, Mexico, where he leads the criminal organization.
Reward Poster for Gonzalez-Penuelas
The US government is offering up to $5 million for any information that leads to the arrest of Gonzalez-Penuelas. Authorities decided to offer this large reward because Jesus and his gang have worsened the ongoing opioid crisis in the country, which claims thousands of American lives each year.
DEA officials commented on the situation: “In 2018, 102 people died from fentanyl overdoses in Colorado. By 2021, that number had risen to 910, and in 2022, 920 Coloradans died from fentanyl. During this period, drug seizures in the region increased. Rocky Mountain police departments confiscated 565,200 fentanyl pills in Colorado in 2021, and 1.9 million in 2022. In 2023, Colorado law enforcement seized a record 3 million fentanyl pills.”
Marijuana Smuggling from Mexico Slightly Decreases
According to a report from US Customs and Border Protection, in the 2023 fiscal year (ending September 2023), 68 tons of marijuana were seized at the US-Mexico border, which is 3% less than in 2022. Authorities also noted a decrease in the smuggling of other drugs: the amount of methamphetamine seized dropped by 20%, and ketamine by 43%.
By the end of 2023, marijuana ranked first among the drugs with the highest mass seized while being transported from Mexico to the US. Methamphetamine was second at 63.5 tons, and cocaine was third at 36.8 tons.
Despite the threat of severe punishment, Mexican traffickers continue to smuggle marijuana into the US. Even small amounts of marijuana can result in a minimum prison sentence of five years, while transporting 50 kg or more can lead to 20 years to life in prison.