10 Legendary Manhunts

9. Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán

Db Cooper
wikipedia

El Chapo (translated as 'shorty', which makes sense as he's only 5 foot 6) was the most prodigious crime and drug lord in Mexico in the early to late noughties. Under the leadership of Guzmán, the Sinaloa cartel is credited for importing more drugs into the US than any other past organisation.

He rose to notoriety and fame when his main rival, Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, was arrested in 2003. This created a power vacuum, allowing Chapo to become the designated top dog of the Mexican cartels.

He was originally captured in 1993 but escaped in 2001 after bribing guards and hiding in a laundry cart to get out of prison.

Guzmán was brazen with his fugitive status: it's been reported that on more than one occasion he would walk into a restaurant, take everyone's phone, eat and then leave having paid for everyone's meals.

He was captured again in 2014, but escaped through a complex series of tunnels: this was something of a trademark, as he was known for creating tunnels in other hideouts. The amazing thing about this second escape is that it was captured live on video.

After an exhaustive effort Chapo was eventually captured again in 2016; he was later extradited to the US where he currently awaits trial.

 
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