Authorities Recapture Alleged Mexican Drug Kingpin Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman After Months On The Run
Police authorities have arrested Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman, also known as El Chapo, Friday night after months on the run. Guzman escaped from prison on Jul. 11 last year following his arrest on Feb. 22, 2014.
Various suspects linked to Guzman's escape last year were killed in an encounter with the Mexican security forces who were seeking to arrest Mexico's top drug kingpin. Casualties during the encounter include two pilots, one of Guzman's lawyers and his brother-in-law, as per CNN Saturday.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said on his official social media account that the notorious drug lord has been recaptured and detained.
An English translation of the Spanish tweet said, "Mission accomplished: We have him. I want to inform the Mexicans that Joaquin Guzman Loera has been detained."
An official from the U.S. law enforcement confirmed the arrest in an statement with ABC News Saturday. Attorney General Arely Gomez said Guzman's address was under monitoring for a month. She added that the infamous drug lord was able to escape through a drainage and exited through the main road in Los Mochis where Guzman and his lieutenant stole cars to run away.
Authorities were able to locate the stolen cars and capture Guzman as well as his lieutenant. Both were arrested without injuries and wounds.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency released a statement on Guzman's arrest.
"The capture of Joaquin 'Chapo' Guzman-Loera is a victory for the rule of law and the Mexican people and government," the agency said, as noted by Al Jazeera Saturday. "It is further evidence of our two countries' resolve to ensure justice is served for families who have been plagued by Guzman-Loera's ruthless acts of violence."
61-year-old Guzman reportedly was initially arrested in Guatemala back in 1993. He managed to escape from a prison in Mexico by hiding himself in a laundry cart in 2001. He was recaptured again in 2014 after 13 years of manhunt.