By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
July 12, 2015
Mexico City, Mexico - On Saturday, Joaquín Guzmán Loera, aka, "El Chapo" known as the Sinaloa drug cartel leader managed to escape around 8:20 p.m. from the Mexican federal Altiplano prison. Prison video surveillance noticed that Guzmán Loera went to the shower room to wash, but prison guards later noticed that Guzmán Loera had disappeared from view and when a cell prisoner check was done, he was missing.
Prison officials and the Secretary of Governence (Segob) have confirmed that Guzmán Loera is missing. A national dragnet has been put into place to locate the fugitive in Mexico. All flights from the Toluca airport were suspended.
Authorities found a sophisticated escape tunnel leading to the maximum Altiplano prison from a nearby property.
At least 18 guards including staff from the prison have been transported to a different location by investigators for questioning. All visiting to the Altiplano prison has been suspended.
The U.S. government had requested for Guzmán Loera extradition to the U.S. to face federal drug trafficking, murder and money laundering charges, but the Mexican government had refused. Many law enforcement agents believed that the Mexican government was paid by Guzmán Loera to keep him in Mexico, so it would be easier to escape. Guzmán Loera's prison escape had been expected by the U.S. government.
Guzmán Loera was a fugitive for 13 years after he escaped in 2001 from the Puente Blanco federal prison located in the state of Jalisco in 2001 and was arrested in Mazatlán, Sinaloa on February 22, 2014 by Mexican marines.