This is the story of how a man who escaped prison disguised as a woman became Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s most loyal lieutenant—only to be captured alongside him in a storm drain in Los Mochis.
This is the turbulent tale of Jorge Iván Gastélum Ávila, alias “El Cholo Iván.” In August 2009, at the Aguaruto prison in Sinaloa, *banda* music and alcohol masked an unusual celebration.
Amidst the commotion, Gastélum Ávila escaped the facility dressed as a woman. That breakout marked the beginning of his relentless rise within the Sinaloa Cartel. Initially known as “Cholo Vago,” he led a bloodthirsty armed wing, fighting for control of northern Sinaloa against the “Mazatlecos” faction and the Beltrán Leyva Cartel.
As the *plaza* boss of Guamúchil, he commanded over 200 gunmen, coordinating drug trafficking, vehicle theft, and fuel theft. His extreme ruthlessness and operational capability earned him the absolute trust of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, making him his lieutenant and head of personal security.
He became one of the 122 priority targets for authorities in both Mexico and the United States. In November 2012, a military operation in Mocorito resulted in a fierce shootout that claimed the life of his romantic partner, María Susana Flores Gámez—a beauty queen crowned Miss Sinaloa 2012.
The incident sparked an intense confrontation involving *narcomantas* (cartel banners) directed at the army. The run for both kingpins came to an end in January 2016 in Los Mochis.
After a bloody clash with the Navy, El Chapo and Cholo Iván escaped through the city’s sewer system. Minutes later, while attempting to flee in a stolen vehicle, they were intercepted and finally arrested by the Federal Police. After years of legal battles, “Cholo Iván” was extradited to the United States in 2023 to face federal charges.
Source: Milenio
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