Who Is Juan José Esparragoza Moreno? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Juan José Esparragoza Moreno, famously known as "El Chuy," was born on February 3, 1949. As of 2025, he is 76 years old. With a complicated history as a prominent Mexican drug trafficker linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, Esparragoza has become a significant figure in the world of organized crime. His story is intricately tied to Mexico's ongoing battle against drug trafficking, making him a notable figure in contemporary criminal history.
You can read more about his life on his Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | King |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | February 3, 1949 |
| Age | 65 Years |
| Birth Place | Huixiopa, Badiraguato, Sinaloa, Mexico |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | Mexico |
| Date of death | 7 June, 2014 |
| Died Place | Mexico |
Popularity
Juan José Esparragoza Moreno's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Juan José Esparragoza Moreno stands at approximately 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall. His weight has fluctuated throughout the years, reflecting the stress and lifestyle associated with his criminal enterprise, but he is generally believed to weigh around 170 pounds (77 kg). His physical characteristics offer insight into a man accustomed to both luxury and the harsh realities of life on the run.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Esparragoza's personal life is shrouded in secrecy, typical for individuals involved in organized crime. There have been unconfirmed reports regarding his family, but detailed information about his relationships is minimal. As of 2025, it is unclear if Juan has a girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse, as he has managed to maintain a low profile regarding his personal relationships.
In 1993, Esparragoza Moreno joined the forces of the Juárez Cartel under the tutelage of the cartel's leader Amado Carrillo Fuentes (alias "El Señor de los Cielos"), a top drug baron in Mexico.
During Esparragoza Moreno's tenure under Carrillo Fuentes, the Juárez Cartel used sophisticated technology, such as large aircraft, to smuggle narcotics, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, from Mexico to the U.S.
The cartel had an important business relationship with the Cali Cartel in Colombia, and owned a number of storage places along the U.S.-Mexico border that were used to hide their merchandise before it was smuggled.
The cartel's connection with Mexico's justice system was reportedly well-established too; it is believed that the former Mexican Army General José de Jesús Gutiérrez Rebollo protected the Juárez Cartel until he was incarcerated for drug trafficking offenses in 1997.
In addition, during the 1990s, the Juárez Cartel reportedly spent between US$20 and US$30 million financing each of their smuggling networks, and generated millions more a week from drug proceeds.
Through a large network spread across the U.S., the Juárez Cartel recruited gang members to move the drugs for them across urban areas like Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Houston, Denver, Phoenix, and New York City.
Net Worth and Salary
Estimating the exact net worth of Juan José Esparragoza Moreno in 2025 is challenging due to the nature of his illicit income sources. However, various reports suggest that he has accumulated considerable wealth over the years, with estimates ranging from $25 million to over $100 million, depending on the varying credibility of sources. His income largely derives from drug sales, but he has also been linked to other criminal enterprises and money laundering activities.
In the cartel, Esparragoza Moreno initially worked as the operational chief and later became the second-in-command, just behind Carrillo Fuentes. He was also a business partner with the imprisoned drug lord Juan José Quintero Payán (alias "Don Juanjo"), one of the founders of the Juárez Cartel.
Esparragoza Moreno's role in the Juárez Cartel was that of a negotiator, and he was responsible for forging alliances with Peruvian and Colombian drug suppliers. He was also a dispute arbitrator within the cartel and was credited for organizing a peace agreement with the Gulf Cartel in northern Mexico.
After his tenure in the Juárez Cartel, Esparragoza Moreno traditionally held leadership positions as a number-two figure, given his preference to maintain a low-profile status and avoid getting arrested or killed as the top kingpins usually do.
Career, Business, and Investments
Esparragoza's career in drug trafficking commenced in the late 1970s, and he quickly ascended through the ranks of the Sinaloa Cartel. Known for his cunning and strategic mind, he played a pivotal role in the cartel's operations, developing drug trafficking routes and trade networks. Besides his drug business, he has made secretive investments into legitimate businesses, blending his illicit earnings with legitimate financial ventures to ensure his wealth remains insulated from law enforcement.
Juan José Esparragoza Moreno (born February 3, 1949, possibly died June 2014), commonly referred to by his alias El Azul (English: "The Blue One"), was a Mexican drug lord and co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, a drug trafficking organization.
Originally a member of the Dirección Federal de Seguridad (DFS) police agency, he founded the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1970s along with other drug kingpins in Mexico. Following its disintegration in the late 1980s, he went on to lead the Juárez Cartel and eventually settled in the Sinaloa Cartel.
He worked alongside fellow drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
Social Network
While Juan José Esparragoza Moreno is not active on social media, there are various online discussions and forums dedicated to the analysis of his life and influence in the drug trade. His absence from social media is a strategic choice, as members of organized crime typically maintain a low profile to avoid drawing attention from law enforcement. However, there are several fan pages and criminal justice analysis platforms where discussions about his life and legacy can be found.
The Guadalajara Cartel took advantage of this opportunity and began supplying cocaine for the Colombian groups through the U.S-Mexico border. But instead of simply acting as smugglers, the cartel leaders decided to take a share of the cocaine profits for themselves (the shares were often as high as 50%).
Under their leadership, the Guadalajara Cartel initially oversaw the production and distribution of marijuana and opium poppies to the United States; by the 1980s, the cartel began to expand its operations and include cocaine in its repertoire. The Guadalajara Cartel managed to traffic cocaine to the U.S.
in multi-ton shipments each month, and their leaders reportedly amassed a fortune. At the same time, the cartel enjoyed a level of protection through the DFS police agency; several of its members were involved in organized crime directly by actively participating in murder and drug trafficking on the cartel's behalf.
Education
Details about Esparragoza's education are scarce. It is widely believed that he did not have a formal higher education, which is common among individuals in organized crime, where street smarts often outweigh academic qualifications. His intelligence and business acumen, however, have been crucial to his success within the drug trafficking world.
In broad daylight on 7 February 1985, several DFS police officers kidnapped Camarena as he left the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara. A few hours after the incident, his pilot Alfredo Zavala Avelar, who had conducted operations for the DEA alongside Camarena, was abducted.
Camarena was taken to a home at 881 Lope de Vega in Guadalajara, where he was tortured to gain information regarding his knowledge of law enforcement operations directed against the Guadalajara Cartel; as well as any information that the DEA may have on Mexican politicians involved in drug trafficking.
Over the course of the 30 plus hour torture session, Camarena's skull, jaw, nose, cheekbones, windpipe, and ribs were broken; the kidnappers brought in a doctor to administer drugs to the agent to keep him conscious throughout the whole session. The kidnappers made audio recordings of some parts of Camarena's interrogation.
The final blow was apparently done when the torturers crushed his skull with a piece of rebar or other similar piece of metal. About a month later, Camarena and Zavala's corpses were taken to the neighboring state of Michoacán and dumped in a roadside ditch to be discovered on 5 March 1985.
