15 Jul 2015

CCTV shows Mexico drug lord Joaquin Guzman prison escape

Mexican authorities have released CCTV footage showing the moment the countrys most-wanted drug lord escaped from his prison cell.

In the video, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman can be seen pacing up and down his cell several times before heading to the shower area and disappearing behind a wall.

Guzman escaped from the maximum security prison on Saturday through a mile-long tunnel behind the partition wall, which is blocked from the CCTV camera’s view.

National Security Commissioner Monte Alejandro Rubido said that Guzman can be seen changing his shoes as he prepares for his escape.

“He changed his shoes, and went to the shower, you can’t see what he’s doing,” Rubido said, explaining the footage.

Guzman was one of the world’s most notorious criminals and ran the powerful Sinaloa Cartel for years. He was ranked among the most powerful men in the world by

Forbes magazine every year since 2009 and this is his second getaway from a high security prison in less than 15 years.

Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said officials at the prison must have helped his escape.

Guzman’s escape has sparked a nationwide manhunt in Mexico and Interpol has put out an alert for Guzman in more than 100 countries.

Mexico said it will offer a reward of 60 million pesos ($3.8m) for information that would lead to his recapture.