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February 24, 2014

Sinaloa Cartel Leader "Chapo" Guzman Arrested in Mexico 
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Mexican authorities have arrested the head of Mexico's largest drug
cartel. Joaquin Guzman, nicknamed "El Chapo," was arrested in a
condominium building in the resort town of Mazatlán. Guzman has been
imprisoned before, but escaped in 2001, reportedly using a laundry cart.
Mexico's Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam described how Guzman was
previously able to elude capture.

Jesus Murillo Karam: "This operation over the last month had very
definitive moments that led to his arrest. Between the 13th and 17th of
February, several homes which he used were discovered and in some of
those homes, which is what complicated the arrest, we discovered that it
was connected by several tunnels to seven homes, not only connected by
several tunnels, but he always used the city's drainage system. The
doors to the home where he was found were reinforced with lead and that
caused several minutes of delay in opening them, allowing for an escape
through the tunnels."

The United States aided the investigation and will seek Guzman's
extradition to the United States. Last month, the Mexican newspaper El
Universal reported U.S. drug agents had previously held extensive secret
negotiations with the Sinaloa cartel, reportedly agreeing not to
interfere with its activities or to actively prosecute Chapo Guzman and
other leaders, in exchange for information about rival cartels.

 

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