Where is Mexico's biggest drug lord El Chapo now after prison escape and son's scandal

El Chapo’s Current Imprisonment

Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, aged 67, is serving a life sentence inside ADX Florence, a supermax federal prison in Colorado known as the most secure facility in the United States. The prison houses high-profile criminals in near-total isolation, and Guzmán spends roughly 23 hours a day alone in his cell.

He was convicted in 2019 on multiple charges, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and involvement in organized crime. This verdict ended decades of pursuit, arrests, and dramatic escapes that had made “El Chapo” one of the most notorious drug lords in the world.

His Infamous Prison Escapes

Guzmán’s fame grew partly due to his audacious prison escapes in Mexico. In 2001, he fled from a maximum-security prison reportedly hidden inside a laundry cart. Then, in 2015, he escaped again through a mile-long tunnel that led directly into his prison cell’s shower area. His recapture in 2016 was followed by extradition to the United States in 2017.

Family and Legacy

El Chapo’s family continues to attract attention, especially his son, Ovidio Guzmán López, one of four brothers known as “Los Chapitos.” They are accused of leading a faction of the Sinaloa cartel after their father’s arrest. Ovidio was captured by Mexican forces in 2023 after violent clashes that revealed the cartel’s influence in northern Mexico.

Emma Coronel Aispuro, Guzmán’s wife, was sentenced in 2021 to three years in prison in the United States for assisting his criminal empire, though she was released in 2023.

Life in Solitude

Inside ADX Florence, Guzmán has almost no contact with the outside world. Visits are rare, and his communication is tightly monitored. His lawyers have described his conditions as “psychologically tormenting,” emphasizing extreme isolation and limited sunlight. Despite appeals, his attempts to transfer to a Mexican prison have been repeatedly denied.

Legacy of the Drug Lord

Although his criminal career is over, El Chapo’s legacy endures across pop culture and narcotics history. The Sinaloa cartel he once led remains one of the most powerful trafficking organizations globally, continuing to operate under new leadership.

"He is a ghost of himself, living in silence after ruling an empire of noise and power," one former associate reportedly said.

Author’s summary

Once one of the world’s most feared criminals, El Chapo now endures complete isolation in an American supermax prison, while his family faces the fallout from his empire’s shadow.

The Mirror US on MSN — 2025-11-29