THE RISE & FALL OF ‘EL CHAPO’ GUZMAN
By: Gabriela Munoz
Birthplace of ‘El Chapo’
Cocaine Alley May 1990 cocaine
boomed across America. In Agua Prieta, Mexico,
U.S. Custom Agents found what they were looking for.
New level of transporting Marijuana and cocaine north every year.
Tunnels connecting house from a warehouse in Mexico to the U.S.
Were designed with hydraulic lifts like in auto shop.
“Shorty” Mexican marijuana producer to become world’s most powerful drug cartel.
Rising through Ranks In his 20’s Guzman was
placed in charge of transporting drugs for Mexican kingpin Hector Luis Palma Salazar from Sinaloa to coastal cities.
In his 30’s was supervising logistics for Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo (Guadalajara cartel)
Godfather of Tunnels 1990 Customs agents
discover tunnels running underneath houses.
Half a dozen other tunnels were found in California & Arizona.
One stretched 425 meters from Tijuana to San Diego.
Tunnels Con’t
Laundry cart escape January 19, 2001, 12
years left on a prison sentence, Guzman crawls into laundry cart & is wheeled out of prison.
Escape fueled Guzman myths and he grew more powerful.
After escape Guzman expanded to Europe & Australia, sending emissaries to develop local contacts whom he could bribe.
Controlled 1,954 miles of U.S.-Mexico border.
Used jet, trucks, cars, boats and rail cars to move drugs.
More Fame for Guzman Forbes Magazine named
him one of the “World’s Most Powerful People” in 2009.
Was included in the publication’s list of world’s billionaires alongside Bill Gates and others.
Public Enemy #1 Feb. 14, 2013 Guzman was
declared public enemy #1, no one declared that since Al Capone in 1930.
Far more menacing than Capone.
“What Al Capone was for beer and whiskey Prohibition, Guzman is to narcotics.”
“Guzman far greater threat, has more power & financial capability than Capone ever dreamed of.”
Reward for any information was $5 million.
‘El Chapo’ goes down Feb. 22, 2014 U.S. wiretap
directed Mexican Marines to 4th floor condo in Mazatlan, Mexico.
Taken into custody at 6:40 am.
Spend rest of life in prison. 7 U.S. courts have indictments pending against him, and several are pressing for extradition.
Support for ‘El Chapo’ “We support Chapo Guzman because he is the one
who gives us jobs and helps out in the mountains.”-Pedro Ramirez
Works CitedPictures and Quotes
Patdollard.com Dailymail.co.uk Borderlandbeat.com Policymic.com News.howzit.msn.com Businessinsider.com Abcnews.go.com Article.wn.com Cbc.ca/news.com