“I take no pride in keeping secrets that may be perceived as protecting criminals, nor do I have any gloating arrogance at posing for selfies with unknowing security men”, Sean wrote.
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In the interview, “El Chapo Speaks”, published January 9 in Rolling Stone magazine, Penn details how he came to secretly meet with the “most wanted man in the world”.
“The trust that El Chapo had extended to us was not to be f–ed with”, Penn writes in the Rolling Stone article.
As it turns out, authorities in the area used Sean’s interview to help them refine their search for the cartel boss, so they were better able to track him. But following a close call with Mexican authorities El Chapo had to skip the meeting.
Senior Mexican government sources said they were indeed aware of the October meeting and monitored his movements.
“Today I believe more in El Chapo Guzman than in the governments that hide the truth from me even though it is painful”, del Castillo said in a message linked to her Twitter account in 2012. And the latest escape in July, Guzman told Penn, was a well-planned operation.
The interview, conducted in October while Guzman was on the run, helped open a new line of investigation and eventually led the security forces to the drug lord, who escaped from a maximum-security prison outside Mexico City on July 11.
Mexican Navy marines stand next to their vehicle after they participated in the recapture of Mexico’s most wanted drug lord, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman in the city of Los Mochis, Mexico, Friday, Jan. 08, 2016. “He suggests to us that we consider switching our career paths to the oil business”, Penn writes.
Rolling Stone says the meeting between Guzman and Penn was brokered by Mexican actress Kate del Castillo. A lawyer representing Chapo later contacted her, saying the fugitive kingpin wanted to send her flowers.
An agent for del Castillo has not responded to ABC News’ request for comment.
In their seven-hour meeting, Penn and Guzman discussed various topics including drug trafficking. Trump has been highly critical of illegal migration of Mexicans to the U.S.
“Drug trafficking does not depend on just one person”. “I hope it’s of natural causes”.
On Saturday, a federal law enforcement official speaking anonymously to the AP said that Mexico is willing to extradite Guzman to the United States, a reversal from the official position after his last arrest in 2014.
“They can challenge the judge, challenge the probable cause, challenge the procedure”, said Juan Masini, former U.S. Department of Justice attache at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. Does this mean Penn inadvertently aided in the capture?
Authorities said Guzman would have three days to file objections to the extradition request and 20 more days to prove them, although the timeframe could be deferred. The United States had sought his extradition in June before he escaped, Gomez said.
“He’s been indicted here on at least four charges, money laundering, homicide, drug conspiracy and a few other charges”, said Montes.
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Guzman escaped through a rectangular hole found underneath a shower of his prison cell, moving through a fully ventilated tunnel equipped with electric lighting.
