Sinaloa Cartel Founder El Chapo Reveals 'Real Bosses' in the Drug Trade, Says He's Just a 'Trophy'
Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera has publicly identified those he claims are the real power behind the international drug trade.
El Chapo's attorney, Mariel Colon, told Business Insider that his client said the only way for the drug war to stop is that the authorities would go after "politicians" on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Colon is one of the few people permitted to communicate with the Mexican drug kingpin regularly.
"For years, authorities have put away these alleged leaders, but it is not serving any purpose. But if you go after politicians that are allowing this to happen, it's a different thing... That's what he [El Chapo] has expressed before. That's what he thinks," Colon told the outlet.
The lawyer noted that El Chapo was aware that he and other drug kingpins like him may be a "trophy" used for political purposes while the real villains of the drug trade go unpunished. Colon noted that every newly elected U.S. president has a trophy.
"With Trump was Chapo. After him, Biden has his trophy as well... It's always been just politics," the lawyer said.
El Chapo was sentenced to spend the rest of his days in the ADX Florence "supermax" prison in Colorado after being sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019 on multiple drug-related charges.
Colon said the Sinaloa Cartel boss is allowed one hour a day to go outside and given 15 minutes of phone calls monthly to talk to his mother, his youngest child, and one of his sisters.
The lawyer said that El Chapo "has been in complete isolation" and had no access to any recreational area or any other area around the prison other than his cell.
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Sinaloa Cartel Boss El Chapo
El Chapo is currently imprisoned in one of the most secure prisons in the U.S. The infamous Sinaloa Cartel boss was first arrested in Guatemala in 1993 and extradited to Mexico, where he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder and drug trafficking.
But in 2001, the Mexican drug kingpin escaped from prison. He was arrested again in 2014 in Sinaloa and again escaped from prison through a tunnel the following year.
Mexican officials announced in January 2016 that El Chapo had been captured again. He was extradited to the U.S. the following year.
But even when he's behind bars, the Sinaloa Cartel remained one of the world's most powerful drug trafficking syndicates. The Mexican drug cartel has been known for carrying out assassinations, murders, and torture to protect its turf.
The Sinaloa Cartel seems to have taken its style from Colombia's Cali Cartel by creating strong connections to Mexico's political and economic elite. It has also successfully penetrated government and security forces in areas where the cartel operates.
InsightCrime reported that the Sinaloa Cartel's most powerful contacts have traditionally been in the National Action Party. Some sources claimed that the party helped account for the drug cartel's growth in the last decade.
Mexican Band Pays Tribute to El Chapo at Culiacan Event in Mexico's Sinaloa State
As part of the 491st anniversary of the City Council of Culiacan in Sinaloa, the "8 Music Fest" concert featured a performance by narcocorrido singer "Peso Pluma," who paid tribute to El Chapo.
The celebration ran from September 23 to October 1. On its last day, Peso Pluma performed "Siempre Pendientes," and the face of El Chapo was shown on the mega screen on the stage, which sparked controversy.
Ayuntamiento de Culiacán sobre los festejos del 491 aniversario de Culiacán: el inicio del fin de la narcocultura en Culiacán.
* Los cierres de los festejos pic.twitter.com/3YdskRCq9W- Colectivo de Mujeres Activas Sinaloenses, A.C. (@CMAS_AC) October 3, 2022
According to Infobae, the song also contains the acronym "JGL," in reference to Joaquin Guzman Loera. It also mentions translated sentence: "I take care of Mr. Guzmán's square."
The City Council of Culiacán condemned what happened at the "8 Music Fest." The city council explained that the organizers decided to include Peso Pluma in the event at the last moment due to the cancellation of another artist that was previously scheduled.
READ MORE: Colombia and U.S. Discuss Improving Drug Interception at Sea, More Intel Sharing on Drug Trafficking
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: El Chapo Found Guilty on All 10 Charges - From ABC News
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