World
Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman is just a farmer, not Mexican drug lord, he says
The world’s most wanted, and recently captured, narcotics kingpin tells prosecutors he’s just a humble grower of corn, sorghum and beans. He earns about $1,500 per month knows nothing about drug cartels.
The Feb. 22 mug shot of Joaquin Guzman, head of the deadly Sinaloa Cartel, who was arrested in Mazatlan after eluding the Mexican military and police for 13 years. He’s told prosecutors he knows nothing about narcotics trafficking.
After his much-heralded February capture by Mexican authorities, drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" (Shorty) Guzman told prosecutors he knew nothing about drug syndicates, rarely drank, had no tattoos, no email and couldn't remember his telephone number.
"I don't belong to any cartel or have any cartel," the head of Mexico's biggest and richest cartel told prosecutors who interviewed him in prison one day after his Feb. 22 arrest at a beachfront condo in Mazatlan, according to the Mexican newspaper Excelsior, which obtained a copy of Guzman's statements.
Guzman, leader of the mighty Sinaloa Cartel, had been on the lam since escaping federal prison in 2001. He is now maintaining his innocence much the same way he did when a Mexican court convicted him in 1993 on murder and drug charges and sentenced him to 20 years.
He escaped eight years later, after bribing dozens of guards, who secreted him out of prison by hiding him in a laundry basket.
Forbes magazine routinely listed him as one of the world's most powerful people and estimated his net worth at $1 billion. He's also been dubbed the world's biggest drug lord.
The Sinaloa cartel leader - the most-wanted fugitve by U.S. and Mexican drug agencies, has told prosecutors he is just a humble farmer.
He was nabbed with bodyguard Carlos Manuel Hoo Ramirez, nicknamed "El Condor," who later told Mexican authorities he had traveled most of the past three years with Guzman, navigating hidden tunnels, drainage ditches and hiding out in five safe houses.
Ramirez also said the drug lord constantly switched mobile phones and had two planes on standby with pilots ready to whisk him away.
But Guzman gave up nothing to prosecutors. "I'm a farmer," he told them. He said he has been married three times and has four grown children ranging in age from 33 to 27.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/drug-lord-el-chapo-guzman-tells-mexican-prosecutors-humble-farmer-article-1.1744834#ixzz2yJqhYTJA
Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman is just a farmer, not Mexican drug lord, he says
The world’s most wanted, and recently captured, narcotics kingpin tells prosecutors he’s just a humble grower of corn, sorghum and beans. He earns about $1,500 per month knows nothing about drug cartels.
The Feb. 22 mug shot of Joaquin Guzman, head of the deadly Sinaloa Cartel, who was arrested in Mazatlan after eluding the Mexican military and police for 13 years. He’s told prosecutors he knows nothing about narcotics trafficking.
After his much-heralded February capture by Mexican authorities, drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" (Shorty) Guzman told prosecutors he knew nothing about drug syndicates, rarely drank, had no tattoos, no email and couldn't remember his telephone number.
"I don't belong to any cartel or have any cartel," the head of Mexico's biggest and richest cartel told prosecutors who interviewed him in prison one day after his Feb. 22 arrest at a beachfront condo in Mazatlan, according to the Mexican newspaper Excelsior, which obtained a copy of Guzman's statements.
Guzman, leader of the mighty Sinaloa Cartel, had been on the lam since escaping federal prison in 2001. He is now maintaining his innocence much the same way he did when a Mexican court convicted him in 1993 on murder and drug charges and sentenced him to 20 years.
He escaped eight years later, after bribing dozens of guards, who secreted him out of prison by hiding him in a laundry basket.
Forbes magazine routinely listed him as one of the world's most powerful people and estimated his net worth at $1 billion. He's also been dubbed the world's biggest drug lord.
The Sinaloa cartel leader - the most-wanted fugitve by U.S. and Mexican drug agencies, has told prosecutors he is just a humble farmer.
He was nabbed with bodyguard Carlos Manuel Hoo Ramirez, nicknamed "El Condor," who later told Mexican authorities he had traveled most of the past three years with Guzman, navigating hidden tunnels, drainage ditches and hiding out in five safe houses.
Ramirez also said the drug lord constantly switched mobile phones and had two planes on standby with pilots ready to whisk him away.
But Guzman gave up nothing to prosecutors. "I'm a farmer," he told them. He said he has been married three times and has four grown children ranging in age from 33 to 27.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/drug-lord-el-chapo-guzman-tells-mexican-prosecutors-humble-farmer-article-1.1744834#ixzz2yJqhYTJA