El Chapo

Notorious Figure

Joaquín Guzmán Loera / The Short One

Spanish: [xo.aˈkin ɡuzˈman loˈeɾa] | Nickname: El Chapo ("Shorty")

Drug Lord Cartel Leader

Teacher's Note: El Chapo was one of the most powerful drug traffickers in history, leading the Sinaloa Cartel for decades before his final capture.

Biography

1Early Life

Born on April 4, 1957 in La Tuna, Sinaloa, Mexico

Grew up in poverty and began working in the drug trade as a teenager

2Rise to Power

Took over the Sinaloa Cartel in the 1980s

Built an extensive international drug trafficking network

3Wealth & Influence

Forbes listed him among the world's most powerful people

Estimated net worth over $1 billion at his peak

4Notorious Escapes

Escaped from maximum security prisons twice (2001 and 2015)

Second escape involved a 1.5km tunnel dug to his cell

5Final Capture

Recaptured in 2016 and extradited to the US in 2017

Sentenced to life imprisonment plus 30 years in 2019

Teacher's Note: El Chapo's criminal empire was responsible for smuggling hundreds of tons of cocaine and other drugs into the United States.

1Drug Trafficking

Primary smuggler of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana

Used submarines, tunnels and other sophisticated methods

2Violence

Responsible for thousands of deaths in Mexico's drug wars

Cartel engaged in brutal tactics against rivals and authorities

3Corruption

Paid millions in bribes to officials and law enforcement

Network extended to high levels of Mexican government

1Nickname Origin

"El Chapo" means "Shorty" in Spanish (he's 5'6")

Also known as "El Rapido" for his ability to evade capture

2Current Status

Incarcerated at ADX Florence supermax prison in Colorado

Spends 23 hours/day in solitary confinement

3Cultural Impact

Subject of numerous books, documentaries and TV series

His life inspired the Netflix series "Narcos: Mexico"

4Family

Married at least four times, father of at least 10 children

Several sons allegedly involved in cartel operations

Teacher's Note: El Chapo's story represents both the power and ultimate downfall of major drug traffickers in the modern era.