Notorious ‘El Chapo’ Escapes from Mexican Prison

Joaquin Guzman, leader of the Sinoloa, has escaped once again from prison in Mexico.
Joaquin Guzman, leader of the Sinoloa, has escaped once again from prison in Mexico.

Drug lord and head of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, Joaquin Guzman, also known as “El Chapo,” has escaped from prison for a second time in Mexico, this time from the high-security Altiplano prison fifty miles outside of Mexico City.

The incarcerated Guzman made good his escape through a mile-long tunnel that connected to the prison’s shower/laundry area. He entered the shower area from his cell at 8:52 pm on Saturday night, and was not seen again. When prison guards went to investigate why Guzman was taking so long, they discovered a tunnel in the shower area.

Further investigation of the tunnel would find an elaborate mile-long escape route burrowed over thirty feet deep beneath the prison and connected to a partially built house a mile away. The tunnel was equipped with electricity, emergency oxygen tanks, air vents, as well as a motorcycle built to ride on rails that would facilitate a high-speed escape.

It was almost ordained that Guzman would escape through a tunnel system from the prison. The Sinoloa cartel is renowned for it elaborate tunnel systems used for transporting drugs from the Mexican side of the border into the US. Tunnels were also a large part of his various residences, and many of them were equipped with tunnel systems for quick getaways. Guzman escaped from a tunnel system beneath a bathtub in his home five days before his capture in 2014, it led into the storm drains from his mansion.

The prison had a tunnel detection unit to check for tunnels at the facility, but despite having radar and electronic depth testing equipment, no tunnel was ever reported.

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As many as 30 prison employees have been taken for questioning in connection with the Guzman escape. His previous escape from prison in 2001 was made with the aid of prison workers, when he escaped in a laundry cart.Guzman also hinted to government help when he took to Twitter after his escape, saying “The dog dances for money, and I’ve bought it.” Dog is often used as slang by drug organizations when referring to the Mexican government.

Guzman, following his esccape also began calling for the deaths of betrayers, saying, “First to die is El Chabelo, for wanting to see me die in prison.” El Cabelo is the boss of the rival cartel, the “Zetas.” He is currently imprisoned.

Guzman also leveled threats at presidential hopeful Donald Trump for his recent comments on Mexicans. He said in a tweet, Trump would be made to swallow his words.

In reply, Trump, seemingly unfazed said, “El Chapo and the Mexican drug cartels use the border unimpeded like it was a vacuum cleaner, sucking drugs and death right into the US. We get the killers, drugs and crime, they get the money.”

Because Guzman had once before used Mexico’s border with Guatemala to escape from authorities, Guatemala has moved to secure it border with a special task force utilizing police and military.

Although there is little that the U.S. can do concerning Guzman’s re-capture, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said that the United States “stands ready” to cooperate with Mexico to facilitate a quick capture.

The escape of Guzman is a major embarrassment to the Mexican government. Mexico gave assurances to the U.S. over safeguarding against Gusman’s escape. Guzman faces multiple federal drug trafficking indictments in the U.S., and is on America’s Most Wanted list. Mexico vehemently denied the need for extradition to the U.S.

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