The DEA released the below information:
WASHINGTON, DC – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
announced today a toll-free tip line where the general public in the United
States, Mexico, Central and South America can report any information that could
aid in the apprehension of Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo”
Guzman-Loera, who escaped a Mexican prison in July.
The tip line will be managed by the DEA San Diego
Division. In addition to the tip line, the public can email tips to
CHAPOTIPS@USDOJ.GOV.
In concert with the launch of the tip line, DEA has also released a wanted
poster that contains the number, email address, and the U.S. State Department
reward of up to $5 million for the arrest and conviction of Chapo. The poster
can be found at DEA.gov.
“Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman-Loera has
destroyed lives and communities throughout the United States and Mexico and his
capture is a high priority for DEA,” said Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg.
“His escape poses a danger to the safety and security of both our countries.
DEA will continue to work closely with our Mexican counterparts and provide as
many resources as possible to ensure his arrest.”
The tip line number in the United States is
(844) 692-4101 and outside the U.S. the number is 001-844-692-4101.
Guzman-Loera was arrested on June 9, 1993, in Mexico on charges
related to murder and drug trafficking and was sentenced to a 20 year prison
term. However, on January 19, 2001, Guzman-Loera escaped from the federal
maximum security prison in Jalisco, Mexico. While on the run from Mexican
authorities, Guzman-Loera re-established himself as the top ranking
member of the Sinaloa Cartel and leader of the Mexican drug trade, becoming the
world’s #1 fugitive and a Forbes-listed billionaire. He was rearrested on
February 22, 2014, in a modest resort hotel in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. On
July 11, 2015, he again escaped from Altiplano federal maximum security prison
in the State of Mexico.
Guzman-Loera was in charge of the Guzman-Loera drug trafficking
organization (DTO), which in turn, is part of the larger Sinaloa Cartel. Under
the leadership of Guzman-Loera and his partner, Ismael Zambada-Garcia, the
Sinaloa Cartel controls vast trafficking operations on an international scale,
with the majority of its drugs being distributed to the United States. The
Sinaloa Cartel bases its operations principally in the Mexican states of
Sinaloa, Sonora, Durango and Baja California, although it also has
representation in several other states throughout the Republic. In addition to
its distribution cells in the United States, the DTO transports drug shipments
to Canada, Australia, Europe, Africa and Asia. Their organization smuggles
multi-ton cocaine shipments from South America through Central America into
Mexico. They are also involved in the manufacture, transport and distribution of
methamphetamine and heroin. Additionally, the organization operates several
large scale marijuana plantations in Sinaloa and surrounding areas. The Sinaloa
Cartel organization relies on bulk currency shipments to move drug proceeds
across the United States-Mexico border.
Guzman-Loera has been charged with drug trafficking and related
crimes in several U.S. District Courts, to include the District of Arizona, the
Southern District of California, the Western District of Texas, the Northern
District of Illinois, the Eastern District of New York, and the Southern
District of Florida. The first U.S. indictment against Guzman-Loera was unsealed
in San Diego on September 28, 1995, charging him and 22 members of his
organization with conspiracy to import over eight tons of cocaine and money
laundering.
