Drug lord ‘El Chapo’s‘ wish to make a biopic led to his arrest, likely extradition to U.S.

Notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman Loera, also know as ’El Chapo,’ was recaptured this week after he contacted filmmakers to discuss plans to make a movie about himself. 

Police and military were able to successfully track down the drug kingpin earlier this week partly because he or his associated contacted filmmakers about making an El Chapo biopic, Mexican Attorney General Arely Gomez told CNN. 

“Another important aspect that allowed us to pinpoint his location was having discovered Guzman Loera’s intention to film a biographical movie through establishing communication with actors and producers, which formed a new line of investigation,” Ms. Gomez said.

It is likely that a film or series documenting the life of El Chapo will eventually be made and could possibly resemble other such projects like Netflix’s smash hit “Narcos,” which tell’s the story of Colombia’s Pablo Escobar.

After six months on the run, Mr. Guzman is now back in the same maximum security prison from which he escaped earlier this year, according to Mexican law enforcement officials.

A senior official told CNN that extradition of Mr. Guzman to face a judge in the U.S., where his cartel trafficked much of its drugs, is “very likely,” but “will not happen right away.”

The Mexican government has reportedly not yet seen a formal extradition request from the U.S. and has not taken any steps yet, but officials said it is likely to happen. 

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch didn’t bring up extradition in a statement to the media.

“The U.S. Department of Justice is proud to maintain a close and effective relationship with our Mexican counterparts, and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the safety and security of all our people,” she said Friday.

In the past, the Mexican government has refused to extradite Mr. Guzman for prosecution in the U.S., asserting their sovereignty to sentence him for crimes committed in Mexico. U.S. officials had raised concerns that El Chapo would escape from prison as he had already done in 2001.