Extradition suspended
0 0 David Buskirk David Buskirk2015-08-06 18:39:522015-08-06 20:03:07Extradition suspendedEvidence: Allowed to escape
New evidence reveals that Guzman was allowed to escape. His GPS bracelet had been deactivated, he was never moved to a different cell according to regulations of cell rotation, the camera in his cell was moved to provide a blind spot in the shower area, he was allowed to receive guests against regulations, and prison officials pretended not to notice noises that were heard under his cell. The Ministry of the Interior:
Prison officials also deactivated the motion sensor alarms throughout the maximum security jail in Almoloya de Juarez (about 60 miles north of Mexico City) enabling Joaquin Guzman’s people to excavate the complex, high-tech and highly precise tunnel into his cell.
Guards took 18 minutes to respond
Mexican authorities reveal it took 18 minutes for guards to respond after surveillance cameras sounded the alarm that Guzman was no longer in his cell, giving Guzman a good head start on his escape. Prosecutors are investigating whether the prison’s protocols were properly followed and are holding 22 prison officials for questioning.
Escapes
Guzman escapes from the Altiplano maximum security prison through a 1.5 km (1 mile) tunnel from a hole in the shower area of his cell. The hole is ten meters (yards) deep and connects with a tunnel that is 1.7 meters (yards) high that is fully ventilated and has lighting, supposedly built without the knowledge of the authorities. Authorities find a motorcycle adapted to run on rails that they believe was used to carry dirt out and tools in during the construction. The tunnel terminates in a half-built house in a rural farm field near the prison.
Guzman is last seen at 9:00 p.m. A manhunt has begun, with roads being patrolled by federal police with many checkpoints and a Blackhawk helicopter flying overhead. Flights from Toluca airport near the prison are suspended and the hangars are being searched. A Guatemalan special task force of police and soldier are watching their border with Mexico.
Captured
Guzman is arrested in a raid of a high-rise condominium in Mazatlan. The raid happens so fast that his guards do not have time to react and he cannot grab his AK-47 which is nearby. He is taken directly to prison. Former Mexican anti-drug prosecutor:
This is a huge success for Mexican authorities that after so many years, this guy will return to prison. All of his victims deserve that.
Escapes
Guzman escapes from the Puente Grande prison in Guadalajara, having served only eight of his twenty-year sentence. The prison is considered one of the most secure in Mexico having only 100 inmates. Apparently Guzman hides in a laundry cart while a guard wheels it out the prison doors. The guard allows Guzman to get into his car and then drives him out of the prison facilities. None of the other guards check the car. Mexico’s Secretary for Internal Affairs:
All the force of the state will be used to find Guzman and investigate those responsible for the escape. Guzman’s flight is incomprehensible given the precise instructions that have been given to make sure prisoners of the state are guarded and supervised.
Bail denied
A district court orders Guzman to be held without bail in a maximum security prison 35 miles west of Mexico City on charges of possession of cocaine and illegal weapons.
Indictment unsealed
The indictment is unsealed in the U.S. Attorney’s office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania after Guzman’s arrest. U.S. Assistant Attorney:
The arrest of Chapo deals a serious blow to the amount of heroin and cocaine traveling into this country and may well have an influence on the amount of arms being exchanged for drugs.
The U.S. Attorney is seeking his extradition for prosecution in Harrisburg on charges of conspiracy to smuggle heroin and cocaine and to launder drug proceeds.
Arrested
Guatemalan authorities detain Guzman and hand him over to Mexican authorities near Tapachula. He is wanted on charges of drug trafficking, murder and kidnapping. He denies the charges saying that he is a corn and bean farmer who was sightseeing in Guatemala.
Indicted
Guzman is indicted on drug smuggling and money laundering charges as a result of an investigation in the Pocono mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.