El Chapo

, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) [12, 38]. Historical Background He was the principal leader of the Sinaloa Cartel

His second capture, in 2014, was a triumph for President Enrique Peña Nieto. But the triumph lasted less than 18 months. On July 11, 2015, walked into the shower area of his cell at the Altiplano maximum-security prison—the most fortified prison in Mexico. The shower floor had a tiny hole. Using a modified motorcycle engine on rails, he descended through a mile-long tunnel that opened directly inside his cell. The tunnel was six feet tall, had lighting, and oxygen tanks. He had literally built a railroad to freedom. El Chapo

He earned his nickname, "El Chapo" (Shorty), due to his diminutive stature of 5'6", but his physical height was an inverse measure of his power. He quickly established a reputation for two things: extreme violence and an uncanny business acumen. , leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel

both pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in the U.S. in late 2025 [12, 20]. The "New" Most Wanted On July 11, 2015, walked into the shower