“Morogris” for Borderland Beat
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| The residence in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, formerly served as a hideout for the infamous drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Presently, it stands abandoned and has outstanding water utility bills (photo credit: Reforma) |
Eight years have passed since Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested in Los Mochis, Sinaloa. The hideout he used in Los Mochis, complete with a tunnel, now stands abandoned, vandalized, and strewn with garbage.
Grupo Reforma accessed the two-story residence, which boasts four bedrooms and five bathrooms, located at the intersection of Bulevar Jiquilpan and Río Quelite in Las Palmas neighborhood.
At the location, the aftermath of the skirmish that unfolded in the early hours of January 8, 2016, was evident.
This was the incident when El Chapo managed to evade capture through a tunnel, accompanied by his operator Orso Iván Gastélum Cruz (El Cholo). However, both were apprehended an hour later.
The pipeline linked the safe house’s sewage system to the municipal drainage. Along this route, El Chapo maneuvered through a one-and-a-half-meter duct, successfully eluding the Mexican Navy.
Current status
The residence is currently filled with garbage, covered with graffiti, and has transformed into a shelter for both homeless individuals and drug addicts.
A receipt from the Drinking Water and Sewerage Board of the municipality of Ahome, addressed to Justo Cervantes Llanes, was discovered inside the property. The receipt reveals an outstanding debt of MXN$27,390 (US$1,613), accumulated over 53 months of unpaid water service.
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| Receipts showing outstanding water utility bills (photo credit: Héctor Guerrero) |
In one of the ground-floor rooms of the house, a mirror conceals the door that served as an entry point to the tunnel through which El Chapo made his escape.
On the day of his capture, El Chapo managed to exit the tunnel near an Office Depot, where he proceeded to steal a car. He then drove through Jiquilpan and Adolfo López Mateos Boulevard before heading to Carretera Internacional. He was later apprehended by the Navy.
Sources: Diario de Juarez; Reforma