The Rise and Fall of ‘El Chapo,’ Mexico’s Most Wanted Kingpin

By Dave Graham

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, Mexico’s most infamous drug kingpin, is known for transporting vast quantities of drugs globally, escaping two maximum-security prisons, and becoming one of the most sought-after fugitives in the world.

He now faces the possibility of life imprisonment.

On Monday, jurors are set to begin deliberations on ten criminal charges against Guzman, 61, in a trial that commenced in November in New York.

El Chapo’s brazen activities have captured worldwide attention, turning him into a folk hero for some in Mexico, even amidst the violence and chaos perpetuated by his ruthless Sinaloa cartel.

The case has not only showcased Guzman’s personal life and drug operations but has also underscored Mexico’s enduring struggle against one of the most prominent adversaries in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking.

In January 2016, after nearly thirty years of drug running, Guzman was apprehended in his home state of Sinaloa. This followed a dramatic escape from prison six months earlier, where he embarrassed the Mexican government by fleeing through a mile-long tunnel dug directly into his cell—his second successful jail break.

Just days after his 2016 capture, Guzman’s larger-than-life reputation was further cemented when U.S. actor Sean Penn published a detailed account of an interview with the drug lord, which Mexican authorities described as instrumental in his eventual apprehension.

"I supply more heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana than anybody else in the world. I have a fleet of submarines, airplanes, trucks, and boats," Guzman reportedly boasted to Penn during the interview.

In January 2017, Guzman was extradited to the United States, just one day before Donald Trump assumed the presidency with promises to enhance border security and combat immigration and drug trafficking.

Guzman’s notoriety in the criminal underworld began to grow after he orchestrated his first escape in 2001 by bribing prison officials, subsequently establishing dominance over significant drug trafficking routes across the Rio Grande.

However, many residents in various Mexican towns remember Guzman more for the carnage inflicted by his hitmen, responsible for thousands of murders, kidnappings, and brutal acts of violence.

Violence in Mexico spiked in 2006 with the government’s aggressive campaign against drug trafficking, leading to fragmentation among criminal groups and a surge in killings.

Guzman’s Sinaloa Cartel smuggled hundreds of tons of cocaine, marijuana, and crystal meth across the U.S. border. In February 2013, the Chicago Crime Commission labeled him the city’s first Public Enemy No. 1 since Al Capone.

THE ELUSIVE KINGPIN

Security experts acknowledge that the 5-foot-6-inch gangster was exceptionally skilled, consistently managing to outsmart, outgun, or outpay rivals to maintain his dominance in the drug trade for over a decade.

Guzman ascended through the ranks by observing the tactics and errors of his mentors, forming alliances that kept him a step ahead of law enforcement for years.

Mexican soldiers and U.S. agents got close to capturing Guzman on multiple occasions, yet his extensive network of bodyguards and informants would always alert him before potential raids. During preparations for a 2014 operation, U.S. officials limited information transmission to a select few to prevent leaks among Mexican law enforcement, as testified by DEA agent Victor Vasquez during Guzman’s trial.

SINALOA ROOTS

Born in La Tuna, a village in the Sierra Madre mountains of Sinaloa, Guzman emerged in the 1980s working alongside Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, known as "The Boss of Bosses," who was instrumental in establishing cocaine smuggling routes into the U.S.

Guzman’s notoriety spiked in 1993 when assassins targeting him mistakenly shot Cardinal Juan Jesus Posadas. Shortly after, he was arrested in Guatemala and extradited back to Mexico. During his eight years in prison, reports indicate that Guzman managed to smuggle in companions, illicit substances, and even performance-enhancing medication.

Following his escape, he expanded his territory by deploying assassin squads known as "The Ghosts" and "The Zeta Killers," named after a rival gang.

Despite hiding near his childhood home, rumors circulated about Guzman dining in upscale restaurants and generously covering the bills for patrons.

In 2007, he wed an 18-year-old beauty queen in a lavish ceremony in Durango state. The local archbishop sparked controversy by stating that "everyone, except the authorities," knew Guzman was living there. His bride, Emma Coronel, gave birth to twins in Los Angeles in 2011 and attended nearly every day of her husband’s trial, often dressed in outfits similar to his.

WAGING WAR

From 2004 to 2013, Guzman’s gangs engaged in violent confrontations across major Mexican cities along the U.S. border, transforming Ciudad Juarez and Nuevo Laredo into some of the world’s most perilous locations.

In one horrifying incident, fourteen bodies were found mutilated with a note reading, "Don’t forget that I am your real daddy," signed by "El Chapo."

Guzman’s Sinaloa cartel frequently clashed with the Zetas gang, which was formed by former Mexican soldiers, equipping their operatives with advanced weaponry.

In 2008, rival hitmen assassinated Guzman’s son, Edgar, a 22-year-old student. In a poignant show of grief, he reportedly left 50,000 flowers at his son’s grave.

In the 1990s, Guzman became notorious for concealing seven tons of cocaine within cans of chili peppers. Over the following decade, his organization transported drugs in tractor-trailers to major cities in the U.S., such as Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Forbes estimated Guzman’s wealth at $1 billion, though investigators contend that determining his true net worth is nearly impossible.