Sean Penn interview helped nab Mexico drug lord Chapo Guzman

An interview that Hollywood star Sean Penn conducted with Mexican Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman late last year helped Mexico’s government catch the world’s most wanted drug lord, sources said on Saturday (January 9).

Guzman, the infamous boss of the Sinaloa drug cartel, was arrested in northwest Mexico on Friday (January 8) morning, and sent back to the prison he broke out of in July through a mile-long tunnel that led straight into his cell.

Mexican authorities became aware of the meeting between Penn, a Mexican actress and Guzman in October and monitored Penn’s movements, helping lead them to a ranch where the capo was staying, two senior government sources said.

In the article published in Rolling Stone magazine on Saturday, Penn said Guzman became interested in making a movie of his life when he was inundated with requests from U.S. movie studios after his 2014 capture.

Penn said Guzman sent engineers to Germany for three months of training on how to avoid problems when excavating near a low-lying water table beneath the prison where he was being held in order to perfect the escape plan.

The interview, which is the latest twist in Chapo’s larger-than-life career, and also features video clips of the drug lord in a colourful shirt and black cap in a rural setting, gives rare insight into the life of an almost mythical figure.

Penn calls it “the first interview El Chapo had ever granted outside an interrogation room.”

Mexico’s government was aware the interview was being conducted, and was closely monitoring all movements, a government source said.

Hours before the interview appeared in Rolling Stone actor Sean Penn attended his 5th Annual Help Haiti Home Gala in Beverly Hills, California.

The event benefited J/P Haitian Relief Organization, which Penn founded in 2010 after a earthquake left Haiti devastated, with the mission to help those effected survive and thrive. (REUTERS)