As an expert in criminal justice and international law, I have closely followed the case of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, a notorious figure in the world of drug trafficking. His life and criminal activities have been the subject of numerous investigations, books, and even films. When discussing the number of times El Chapo has been incarcerated, it's important to consider the various attempts to apprehend him and the different facilities where he has been held.
First arrest: 1993. Joaquín Guzmán was captured for the first time in Guatemala on
9 June 1993. After his capture, he was extradited to Mexico and was subsequently sentenced to
20 years, nine months in prison on charges that included drug trafficking, criminal association, and bribery. He was incarcerated at the
Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 1, which is a maximum-security prison.
However, Guzmán's time in prison did not last as long as his sentence might suggest.
Second arrest and escape: 2001. In 2001, Guzmán escaped from the prison, which was a significant embarrassment for the Mexican authorities. His escape was facilitated by a complex operation that involved bribery and tunneling.
Third arrest: 2014. After more than a decade as a fugitive, Guzmán was recaptured in February 2014. This time, he was arrested in the coastal city of Mazatlán, Sinaloa. His recapture was a major victory for the Mexican government and its war on drug cartels.
Fourth arrest and re-escape: 2015. In an astonishing turn of events, Guzmán escaped again, this time from the Altiplano Federal Prison in July 2015. His second escape involved an elaborate tunnel system and has been described as a massive intelligence failure.
Fifth arrest and extradition: 2016. Guzmán was finally recaptured in January 2016, in a joint operation by Mexican Marines and the FBI. Following his capture, he was extradited to the United States in January 2017 to face trial on various charges related to drug trafficking and organized crime.
Throughout his criminal career, El Chapo has been in and out of jail multiple times, with his escapes adding a layer of infamy to his reputation. His final arrest and subsequent extradition to the United States marked the end of his time in Mexican prisons and the beginning of a new chapter in his legal saga.
read more >>