El Chapo, Escaped Mexican Drug Lord, Is Recaptured in Gun Battle

Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, the world’s most sought-after drug lord and commander of a vast narcotics empire that stretches across continents, was captured by Mexican naval special forces in a deadly shootout on Friday (08th). And an assault rifle had a. 40 mm grenade launcher, and at least one grenade. “We need to extradite him to the United States”, tweeted Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas and chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

The drug kingpin then escaped a second time on July 11 past year under the noses of guards and prison officers at Mexico’s most secure prison, slipping out of a tunnel.

While some theorize Mexican officials feared Guzman might expose dirty dealings among the country’s politicians, Murillo Karam said he disapproved of the United States cutting deals with criminals – as it did in 2013 with Jesús Vicente “El Vicentillo” Zambada Niebla, the son of Guzman’s top lieutenant – and not sharing with Mexico any intelligence from their cooperation.

The U.S. Justice Department commended the Mexicans for their work as well.

He was recaptured by Pena Nieto’s government in 2014 but escaped in July by capitalizing on the drug-tunneling skills his cartel honed on the USA border.

Joaquin “Shorty” Guzman was arrested along with five other people, but not before five of his bodyguards died in a fierce gun battle with Navy Marines who spearheaded a joint miltary, police and intelligences services operation. Five suspects were killed and six others arrested, according to the statement.

Another Mexican law enforcement official said authorities located Guzman several days ago, based on reports he was in Los Mochis.

His escape added to the great folklore surrounding the legendary kingpin, who managed to pay for the digging of a tunnel from the shower in his cell to a house almost a mile away, a tunnel equipped with lighting, ventilation and a motorcycle.

His ability to sneak tons of cocaine, heroin and marijuana into the United States made him “Public Enemy Number One” in Chicago, a moniker that had been given to U.S. prohibition-era mafia boss Al Capone. He spent years on the run, becoming the head of the Sinoloa cartel before his recapture in 2014.

The escape last July of Mexico’s most-wanted criminal was politically embarrassing. The tunnel had ventilation, lights and a motorbike on rails, illustrating the extent to which corruption was involved in covering up the elaborate operation.

January 19, 2001: Escapes from one of Mexico’s two top-security prisons, in Jalisco state, allegedly in a laundry cart.

Guzman’s arrest will be a major sigh of relief for the president, whose administration was humiliated by Guzman’s prison break.

“The teachers were coming out terrified because they had heard the rumors that he was fleeing in the city’s drains”, said Ana Bertotti, 30, a housewife who crossed town to find her child’s kindergarten closed.

“Given that ‘El Chapo” has already escaped from Mexican prisons twice, this third opportunity to bring him to justice can not be squandered”, Rubio said.