Photo: DEA/PGR
El Chapo, the Sinaloa druglord was taken into custody in Mexico by Mexican Marines, including U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, ICE and U.S. Marshals Service.
By H. Nelson Goodson
February 22, 2014
Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico - On Saturday, Mexican Marines in an operation in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Marshals Service were able to arrest the Sinaloa druglord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera, 59, at 6:40 a.m., according to Mexican authorities. Guzmán Loera was taken to Mexico City under heavy military escort. He was a fugitive for 13 years after he escaped from a Mexican prison, Puente Grande in 2001.
Along with Guzmán Loera, 13 others were also taken into custody during the operation. An estimated 94 weapons were confiscated and 43 vehicles.
A tip by a member of Guzmán Loera's security team apparently allowed Mexican Marines and DEA to track his satellite cellphone to the Miramar, a Pacific beach Mazatlán hotel where he was taken into custody as his current wife Emma Coronel, 24, his two 2-year-old daughters and a babysitter were in the bedroom. The druglord had few security and was arrested without firing a shot.
His personal bodyguard Carlos Manuel Hoo Ramirez was taken into custody on the ground floor. Ramirez told Mexican Marines that Guzmán Loera was staying in room 401. When they raided the room, Guzmán Loera was in bed with Coronel. A rifle was next to him, but he didn't attempt to grab it, according to DEA sources. Six people were also taken into custody at the hotel, witnesses staying on the fourth floor told media news outlets.
Guzmán Loera had plastic surgery in his face and has been suffering from a liver problem due to heavy drinking, according to authorities.
The marines were in an operation for at least five days, before tracking Guzmán Loera to a hotel.
A $5M dollar reward was being offered by the U.S. and $3M by the Mexican government. The U.S. has not commented on Guzmán Loera's capture. The U.S. is expected to seek Guzmán Loera's extradition for drug trafficking, murder, conspiracy and money laundering federal indictments in Chicago, Illinois.
Three Twitter accounts named Alfredo Guzmán, Ivan Guzmán and Gisselle Guzmán apparently admit, they are El Chapo's children who posted, that they are taking it hard and are waiting for instructions on the future of the Sinaloa Cartel. Ivan posted a threat that he would personally take care of the dogs (Mexican Marines) who beat his father during the arrest in Mazatlán. Gisselle posted, that she is devastated with the arrest of their father.
Guzmán Loera had been married multiple times and has at least 12 children from different marriages.
On Saturday, Jesús Murillo Karam, the Mexican Federal Attorney General confirmed the identity of Sinaloa druglord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera, 59, who was detained at 6:40 a.m. at the Miramar Hotel in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico by Mexican Marines. Also 13 others were arrested in an operation that began on February 13. Marines confiscated 97 high powers weapons, 36 handguns, 2 granate launchers, 1 missle launcher, 43 vehicles, 16 houses and two ranches used by Guzmán Loera and the Sinaloa Cartel. By Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
(HNNUSA) - Emma Coronel, 24, and her two 2-year -old daughter's were with Sinaloa Cartel druglord Joaquín Guzmán Loera, 59, aka, "El Chapo" when he was taken into custody on Saturday at the Miramar Hotel room 401 in Mazatlán, Mexico. Coronel was not taken into custody or her babysitter who was also in the room when Mexican Marines broke into the room to take Guzmán Loera into custody. Mexico doesn't charge people or family members for aiding and abetting or hiding a felon as in the U.S..
