Federal sources have preliminarily identified Cesáreo Peñuelas Ruiz, known as “El Profe,” as the second man killed alongside Jesús González Peñuelas, “Chuy Peñuelas,” in a confrontation with Secretaría de Marina (Semar) personnel in northern Sinaloa. The operation took place on Monday, October 26, 2026, when authorities were tracking vehicles allegedly carrying armed individuals.
- Preliminary identification: Relatives told authorities that one of the deceased could be “Chuy Peñuelas” and the other Cesáreo Peñuelas Ruiz, but confirmation awaited genetic and fingerprint tests.
- Criminal link: Federal sources describe “El Profe” as a trusted associate of “Chuy Peñuelas,” identified as a key operator of the Guasave Cartel, an organization tied to the Sinaloa Cartel.
- Limited public profile: No official details have emerged about his role in the criminal structure, when he began collaborating with González Peñuelas, or whether he had specific responsibilities such as drug trafficking, cell coordination, security, or resource management.
A profile marked by unknowns
Unlike González Peñuelas, about whom there are allegations and records related to drug trafficking, public information on Cesáreo Peñuelas Ruiz is scarce. Authorities have not specified what his functions would have been within the criminal organization or since when he would have collaborated with “Chuy Peñuelas.” It also remains publicly unknown whether he had specific responsibilities related to drug trafficking, coordinating cells, security, managing resources, or other activities. What is known about his profile comes mainly from allegations of his alleged closeness to González Peñuelas and the circumstances in which both died.
According to federal sources, Cesáreo Peñuelas Ruiz was originally from ejido 5 de Febrero, in the municipality of Sinaloa de Leyva. Beyond that detail and his alleged proximity to González Peñuelas, no detailed trajectory has been released that would allow reconstructing his incorporation into the criminal structure. It has also not been publicly established when he might have started collaborating with “Chuy Peñuelas.” This lack of information distinguishes “El Profe’s” profile from that of other criminal organization members whose trajectories have been documented for years.
The October 26 operation
The death of “El Profe” occurred during a surveillance deployment by Secretaría de Marina personnel in northern Sinaloa. The operation unfolded after authorities obtained information about vehicles allegedly carrying armed individuals. Naval elements located the units and began following them. During the action, two men got out of a pickup truck and went into a scrub area. According to official reports, from that spot the men began shooting at the Marines. The military personnel repelled the attack, and as a result of the confrontation, both men died at the scene.
Afterward, the bodies remained in the custody of ministerial authorities for the corresponding proceedings. It was then that relatives of the victims came before authorities and said the deceased could be Jesús González Peñuelas and Cesáreo Peñuelas Ruiz. However, because identification could not be established solely by the relatives’ statements, authorities kept confirmation pending through genetic and fingerprint tests.
The Guasave Cartel context
González Peñuelas was identified by authorities as one of the main operators of Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, “El Chapo Isidro,” described as the leader of the Guasave Cartel. The organization has a historical presence in northern Sinaloa and has been linked to drug production and distribution activities. In this context, Peñuelas Ruiz would have performed some function within González Peñuelas’s circle. However, there is not enough public data to precisely establish his position within that structure. The lack of information also prevents determining whether “El Profe” held a specific position, coordinated other members of the organization, or directly participated in operations related to drug trafficking.
After the confrontation, authorities reported the seizure of four pickup trucks with theft reports in the United States, as well as weaponry and other evidence related to the operation. The vehicles and seized items were placed at the disposal of ministerial authorities. The FBI had previously issued a $5 million reward for “Chuy González.”
The relevance of “El Profe” currently rests on his alleged closeness to “Chuy Peñuelas,” a man described as a Guasave Cartel operator, and on the fact that both died during the same Marina operation. If authorities confirm through the corresponding tests that one of the deceased was Cesáreo Peñuelas Ruiz, his identity will be established; however, his exact role within the criminal structure will remain one of the main unknowns until new elements of the investigation are made public.