The once powerful drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is claiming that he is being denied phone calls and visits in the maximum security U.S. prison where he is serving a life sentence. In a letter to District Court Judge Brian M. Cogan, Guzmán complained that he hadn’t been able to speak with his twin daughters for seven months. Despite his request for authorization for his daughters to visit him, the judge denied his request, stating that all arrangements were now in the hands of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Guzmán expressed frustration at being barred from receiving outside communication, calling it “unprecedented discrimination.” Known as Mexico’s most notorious drug lord, Guzmán was convicted in New York in 2019 for running an industrial-scale smuggling operation and was sentenced to life in prison later that same year. Under his leadership, the Sinaloa cartel, one of the world’s largest drug trafficking organizations, was responsible for smuggling large quantities of drugs into the United States and was associated with multiple murders.
Prior to his imprisonment in the U.S., El Chapo had a history of escaping from Mexican prisons. He first escaped in 2001 and spent more than a decade on the run before being recaptured. In 2015, he made a daring escape from prison via a mile-long tunnel that was dug into the shower in his cell. This escape led to his recapture and eventual extradition to the U.S. where he is now being held at the Administrative Maximum U.S. Penitentiary in Colorado.
Despite Guzmán’s complaints and requests for communication with his daughters, the judge ruled against him, stating that the Bureau of Prisons was responsible for all arrangements after his conviction. Guzmán’s wife has also faced legal trouble, pleading guilty to drug trafficking and other felony charges in the U.S. The Sinaloa cartel, which Guzmán once led, was known for its violent tactics and vast drug trafficking operations, making him a significant figure in the world of organized crime.
Despite his current imprisonment in the U.S., El Chapo’s legacy continues to be felt in Mexico and the international drug trade. His complaints about being denied communication with his daughters underscore the human side of a man who was once one of the most powerful and feared drug lords in the world. While he may no longer be able to control his criminal empire from behind bars, his impact on the world of drug trafficking and organized crime is still being felt.
