Drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman’s escape tunnel revealed

He pads back to the shower, kneels behind the wall, and disappears.

Guzman then sits on his bed and changes footwear before heading back to the shower for the last time and bending down.

Police keep watch outside the Altiplano Federal Penitentiary, after drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman escaped, in Almoloya de Juarez, on the outskirts of Mexico City, July 12, 2015.

And the newly released closed-circuit video shows how calmly and easily he did it, even within the confines of his cramped narrow cell. It was one of two blind spots for the security cameras in Guzman’s cell.

The chilling clip shows Guzman alone in his cell.

Guzman didn’t just evade the cameras; he also sidestepped another security measure with alarming ease. In addition to being monitored by cameras, he was also fitted with a tracking bracelet, which he somehow removed prior to entering the tunnel. “This is a very sophisticated operation”, said Alonzo Pena, a former senior official at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

After his arrest past year, Mexico resisted that suggestion, and the USA did not insist. Three Mexican prison officials have been fired.

“My sense is that he’s a creature of habit”, Riley said.

“It’s a natural behavior for prisoners in a confined space for a prolonged time”, Rubido told a news conference.

Osorio Chong said he decided to fire the Altiplano prison’s director as well as the head of the nation’s penitentiary system and general co-ordinator “to facilitate” the investigation. Of particular interest, he said, is Guzman’s wife, who the cartel chieftain may use to pass on his orders. Other investigators said it could have been Guzman sending a subliminal message symbolizing his own flight. Floors that meet cell regulations might have hindered the drug linchpin’s escape, but is is uncertain as to whether thicker, reinforced floors alone could have entirely prevented the escape.

The tunnel stretched for about a mile and ended inside a half-built house. However, Mexican officials say such information had not been passed to them.

And this wasn’t the first time.

Osorio Chong urged Mexicans to help authorities find Guzman.

His wealth is estimated at $1bn (£630m).

Guzman has been a nightmare for both sides of the border.

The cartel controls much of the flow of cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine to the US.

They had blueprints, the engineers had blueprints to the facility, to the prison, they were able to come right up for him to get out and in the USA, law enforcement authorities have declared him public enemy number one.

It was disclosed that the prison authorities allowed “drilling and waterproofing works” for a pipeline project on the perimeter of the jail.

But prosecutors are investigating whether protocols were properly followed, he said. But that’s not going to deter us. “So the resources to kill, to corrupt, are there”, Riley said.