"Chapo" Guzman Captured in Mazatlan
Posted on Sat Feb 22, 2014 at 12:45:39 PM EST
Tags: Chapo Guzman (all tags)
Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, leader of the Sinaloa cartel, has been captured in Mazatlan, Mexico.
Guzman, accompanied by a female, was captured in a joint operation with Mexican marines and Drug Enforcement Administration authorities overnight at a hotel in the beach resort of Mazatlán. The operation had been in the works for four or five weeks, the official said.
Will he stay in custody long enough to be extradited to the U.S.? He's facing multiple Indictments in the U.S. Which District will they take him to first? Perhaps San Diego?
This is a huge coup for law enforcement, but it won't make a bit of difference as to the availability of drugs in the U.S. Like any major corporation, the cartel will have plenty of people ready to take his place. No one is indispensable. [More...]
There was a short news conference and Chapo was not "presented" to the media for photos. He was whisked into a waiting helicopter.
Chapo was captured at the Miramar Hotel in Mazatlan.
The Washington Post has more. According to the press conference in Mexico, the operation was conducted by the Mexican Marines. Earlier this week, they raided the home of Chapo's ex-wife,Griselda Pérez López. That led to other homes, 7 in all, which were connected by tunnels. They could have arrested him a few days ago, but for safety reasons, they waited until this morning. The U.S. was not part of the raid, although it provided information to the Mexican agencies.
The press conference in Spanish is he