The news has been all about Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman lately, the drug kingpin who escaped from prison three months ago.
Considering the billions of dollars that he had amassed, which included a fleet of aircraft he could easily use to fly off somewhere, El Chapo chose to stay home. Rather than flee, he used his money wisely on local officials and military commanders so that they could tip him in case federal authorities would come.
“He could have gone to Argentina, to Europe,” said author Anabel Hernandez via the LA Times. She penned several books on Mexico’s drug cartels and the government corruption. “He was where he felt safe. Where he felt untouchable.”
Guzman apparently got hot on the feds’ radar, particularly that curious and controversial interview he had with actor Sean Penn. The article published last Saturday on the Rolling Stone eventually put Penn in the hot seat.
Of course, El Chapo had accomplices, and one of them was apprehended at the home of former world champion Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel.
The 36-year-old boxer was surprised to learn that one of El Chapo’s men was hiding in their home.
According to boxingscene.com, it was about 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning, Montiel narrates, having heard shots from behind his home. He gathered up his kids and took them up to his bedroom during the commotion but what happened next was even more appalling.
Montiel got a call from some marines, asking him if they could come in to check if there was anybody around his home. Apparently, Montiel obliged and ended up surprised when the marines found one of El Chapo’s accomplice hiding in one of the rooms.
As it turns out, that guy was able to break in to Montiel’s home, deactivate the alarm and hide. Montiel was astonished at the development but eventually thanked God that nothing untoward had happened.
"I can only say that God does exist and He was with me at this time. Thanks be to God for what I survived this morning," Montiel was quoted as saying via his Twitter account.
Solo puedo decir q Dios si existe y estuvo conmigo en estos momentos. Gracias Dios x lo q vivi esta madrugada y lo estoy diciendo
Montiel says that he did not know the person apprehended, nor was he aware that there was an ongoing operation to recapture El Chapo.
Mexican authorities were able to arrest Guzman Friday but only after a shootout per CNN.
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