World’s Most Wanted Drug Lord Captured In Mexico

Feb. 22, 2014— -- The world's most wanted drug lord has been captured alive by authorities in Mexico, the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice said today.

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, a long-time figure on the Drug Enforcement Agency's most-wanted list, was taken overnight by U.S. and Mexican authorities in Mazatlan, a beach resort town in Mexico.

"Today's apprehension of Joaquin 'Chapo' Guzman Loera by Mexican authorities is a landmark achievement, and a victory for the citizens of both Mexico and the United States," Attorney General Eric Holder said. "The criminal activity Guzman allegedly directed contributed to the death and destruction of millions of lives across the globe through drug addiction, violence, and corruption."

Wearing a white shirt and dark pants, the man described by the U.S. Treasury as "the most powerful drug trafficker in the world" was photographed being escorted by Mexican marines as he arrived at Mexico City airport today.

He is being taken directly from the airport to prison, Mexican Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam told The Associated Press. Before his arrest, Guzman had been on the run for more than a decade since his infamous 2001 escape from a Mexican maximum security prison in the back of a laundry truck.

No shots were reportedly fired as Mexican marines burst into Guzman's hotel room at 6:40 a.m. today, where they found the 56-year-old with an unidentified woman, and arrested him along with "a few" of his bodyguards who were nearby, the AP reported.

The operation to catch Guzman was planned and took place over several weeks and began with an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigation unit, sources told ABC News in Washington.

One source said the arrest itself is in "large part" due to information gathered by ICE. And the other source said ICE provided "critical" information to Mexican authorities that led to the arrest.

The capture follows the takedown of several high ranking members of the Sinaloa drug cartel over the past week, during which valuable information was gleaned that helped lead to the Guzman's arrest, sources said.

A number of Guzman associates were taken into custody last week when Mexican authorities raided a hideout where he was staying, the sources said, but Guzman narrowly managed to escape by exiting through a tunnel shortly before authorities closed in.

Guzman, whose nickname is slang for "shorty," is the alleged CEO of the Sinaloa cartel, which is estimated to move 25 percent of all illegal drugs entering the U.S. through Mexico. He is facing drug trafficking and multiple other charges and is wanted in at least six U.S. districts and Mexico.

The cartel is also heavily involved in crime and carnage arising from the bloody drug war that has swept Mexico and the U.S. over several years.

"The operation led by the Mexican government overnight to capture Joaquin 'Chapo' Guzman Loera is a significant victory and milestone in our common interest of combating drug trafficking, violence and illicit activity along our shared border," Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said. "We congratulate our Mexican partners in this achievement and we will continue to work collaboratively with them to ensure a border region that is safe and secure, for the communities and citizens of both our nations."