The world’s most powerful drug lord El Chapo
The world’s most powerful drug lord El Chapo
The world’s most powerful drug lord El Chapo Guzmán sentenced to life in prison in the United States – but his life’s work lives on
Notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera has been sentenced to life in prison in a New York court.
The now 62-year-old Guzmán led the so-called Sinaloa cartel in Mexico, which has narcotics manufactured in large quantities and smuggles the drugs into the United States.
The Sinaloa cartel is described by the United States as the world’s strongest drug-trafficking organization, and Guzmán was the world’s most powerful in his industry.
It was therefore a major success for the US and Mexican authorities that Guzmán was captured and extradited to the US in 2017. Before that, he had escaped from prison in Mexico twice.
Guzmán learned about the drug trade as a child from his father in the poor areas of Sinaloa.
Drug cultivation and small-scale laboratory production at home bring significantly more money than regular farming.
The risks are also relatively small, especially if the local police can be bribed.
The father squandered his drug money on booze and women. The young Guzmán is said to have been irritated by this.
Therefore, he started his own business quite early in his teens.
However, he has always surrounded himself with women in adulthood.
During his trial in New York last winter, the text messages he sent to his countless mistresses were discussed.
His 29-year-old wife Emma Coronel Aispuro sat in the courtroom and listened without moving a face.
Before the trial, there was a dearth of evidence and testimony about Guzmán’s life and livelihood.
Most were rumors and legends about how he rose from a poor childhood in the mountains of Sinaloa to become one of the richest and most ruthless drug lords in the world.
Prosecutors managed to bring both mistresses and former henchmen to justice.
They painted a picture of a man of enormous wealth who was obsessed with young women and girls and who intimidated people into obedience by personally torturing and killing his opponents.
The brutality also afflicted people who had committed seemingly minor sins, such as not shaking their hand.
Guzmán consolidated his rule by paying generous bribes to police and officials. According to the testimonies, it must have happened right up to the highest level.
Presidents Enrique Peña Nieto and Felipe Calderón are said to have received large bribes from Guzmán. Both deny this.
El Chapo liked to manifest his wealth. He had a private zoo with tigers, lions, and bears that his guests could visit.
His pistol butt was decorated with diamonds and he had had his AK-47 assault rifle gilded.
The capture and conviction of Joaquín Guzmán do not mean that the Sinaloa cartel has weakened.
The drug syndicate lives on and is now led by Guzmán’s 71-year-old associate Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
Guzmán’s sons Jesús Alfredo and Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar are poised to take over the business. Thus, the management continues in the third generation.