This mobile phone was used to take the last photograph of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán following his final arrest. Here is the story of how it happened. Intelligence operations identified a residence in Los Mochis allegedly linked to the kingpin, leading authorities to keep it under surveillance for at least a month.
In the early hours of January 7, unusual activity was observed. A car arrived, and shortly thereafter, El Chapo’s presence at the location was confirmed. Consequently, it was decided that a raid would take place early the following day.
El Chapo, accompanied by his head of security, “El Cholo Iván,” escaped through a tunnel connected to the city’s drainage system. The two remained hidden in the sewer network for about five hours. As it happened, it was raining, which caused the water levels in the sewers to rise—a stroke of luck for the operation.
At some point, apparently overcome with panic, El Chapo emerged from a manhole. They stole a car—though it was barely functional; in fact, it broke down, forcing them to steal another vehicle—a red Ford Focus.
Fortunately, the owner of the first vehicle reported the theft. Following this report, “Operation Blue Shark” (Operativo Tiburón Azul) was launched—a plan devised by the Federal Police to alert patrol units and seal off the entry and exit points of Los Mochis in the event of a high-risk situation.
It was this operation that led to the vehicle being located, and this is where the owner of this phone enters the story. He is one of the Federal Police officers who took part in the capture. He recounts that officers stationed at the *lienzo charro* (a rodeo arena) spotted the red vehicle heading toward Culiacán.
They alerted colleagues positioned further along the route—near a seafood restaurant called “La Japonesa,” located 2.5 kilometers from the *lienzo charro*—who might intercept the car. The patrol unit, which was on alert, stopped the red car in which the most-wanted man was traveling.
A Federal Police patrol unit arrived, followed shortly by a Municipal Police unit. One of the officers spotted “Cholo Iván” and remarked, “Here comes the boss.” Both officers were taken aback, unsure of how to proceed. As for the Federal Police officers who had just arrived, one pulled Cholo Iván from the vehicle, while the other forced El Chapo to the ground and handcuffed him—still unaware of his true identity.
Once they realized who he was, they called the owner of the phone they had in their possession to request assistance: “Partner, I need backup.” “I beg you, I’m asking you—come over here.” Even without knowing who it was, the officer gave the order for a “16”—police code for an arrest—and they agreed to meet at a nearby location.
The officer could only see “El Cholo,” because the patrol vehicle carrying “El Chapo” suddenly sped off toward the Dux Motel. They caught up with them there, and, unsure of what to do next, they contacted the Navy to report that they had the most-wanted man in custody.
They then called their superior, Officer Nicolás González Perrín, and said, “Chief, we have the most-wanted man.” They wouldn’t even reveal the person’s name—not by text, nor by voice. The officers were afraid; reinforcements hadn’t arrived, and they didn’t yet fully grasp that they had “El Chapo.”
They described the minutes as feeling like an eternity until the Army finally arrived. They felt more at ease once the Navy also showed up—and it was at that moment that they received another call. It was their chief, González Perrín, asking for a photograph of the detainees.
As the officer took the picture, “El Chapo” began to argue with him, offering him anything he wanted in exchange for his release, and promising that he would never work again. This story remained untold for over a decade; today, it is recounted by the federal police officers who took part in the operation to capture Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Source: NMás
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