Sean Penn’s encounter with ‘El Chapo’ the focus of USA authorities

Before his recapture, Guzman had contacts with people outside the prison including USA actor Sean Penn, who published an interview with the cartel leader in Rolling Stone, a biweekly magazine that focuses on popular culture.

The improved security measures also include reducing the number of inmates, quadrupling the number of cameras on the site and moving Guzman randomly, without warning, to different parts of the prison, Mexico government spokesman Eduardo Sanchez told Reuters.

Asked about the text messages at a public event on Wednesday, Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong declined to say anything about them and said the Attorney General’s Office would comment on the matter soon.

This frame-grab taken from January 8, 2016, video released by Mexican officials, shows national navy marines storming a home during the operation to recapture Mexico’s most-wanted drug kingpin, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman in Los Mochis, Mexico.

“If during the dinner El Chapo gave them money, or jewels, or he gave them money for the movie or any other transaction, they could be charged with money laundering”, Barragan y Salvatierra said. He said he’s waiting to get the “greenlight” from Penn who, he made a point of reminding reporters, “I’ve known a long time” having done a lot of interviews with the actor over the years.

After six months on the lam, Guzman is back in the same prison he escaped from on July 11.

Workers at the Mexican prison where El Chapo is being held have indicated that officials are moving him from cell to cell to make it more hard for him to escape.

President Enrique Pena Nieto praised the security forces for the arrest of “the world’s most wanted criminal” in a brief televised speech on Monday. In the meantime, they plan to take extraordinary measure to prevent a third escape.

A senior government official, who declined to be identified, said one reason Guzman left his redoubt in the Sierra Madre mountains of Sinaloa for Los Mochis was because he was desperate to set up another meeting with the Los Angeles-based actress.

Sean Penn travelling to a Mexican jungle to interview Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is already the stuff of legend.

In addition, Guzman prided himself in building his drug empire.

It’s unclear whether authorities were referring to Penn and Kate del Castillo, a Mexican actress who has supported Guzman. Guzman evaded authorities then, but was finally captured after a shootout Friday in the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa. At the time, they said he suffered injuries to the leg and face as he evaded capture.

Early stage The US government sources could not confirm whether or not authorities will subpoena Penn.