A lawsuit against a drug lord costs $ 50 million

A lawsuit against a drug lord costs $ 50 million

NEW YORK. The former boss of the Sinaloa cartel is in New York in court

Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán during his second capture early 2016 Image: APA / AFP / ALFREDO ESTRELLA

Yesterday, in the United States, a process of superlatives began: Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the former boss of the Mexican drug cartel Sinaloa, has been brought to court in New York since yesterday. Aged 61, called "El Chapo" ("the shortest") because of his small size, he faces a life sentence in a high security prison.

Guzmán, who escaped twice from prison in his native country, must answer charges of drug trafficking, arms trafficking and money laundering.

154 tons of cocaine

The Mexican cartel Sinaloa, considered the "largest drug smuggling organization in the world" under his leadership, had introduced more than 154 tons of cocaine into the United States between 1989 and 2014, as well as heroin, Crystal methamphetamine and marijuana, according to the indictment. He should have earned 14 billion dollars (12.3 billion euros).

The American justice has collected incriminating elements comprising 300,000 pages and 117,000 audio recordings. The mammoth trial, scheduled for four months in a Brooklyn district court, is held behind closed doors. The twelve jurors are selected in accordance with the strictest security measures. They remain anonymous and are escorted every day to court by security guards.

Guzmán's former business partners, former accomplices and their rival informants and trial witnesses are also protected. Many are already living with a new identity as part of the witness protection program. Detained informants are housed in special wings to protect them from retaliation.

Since January 2017 in solitary confinement

The process depends to a very large extent on their statements. Because no one has pictures of how cocaine Guzmán entered the United States and "bags of money" were received, said lawyer Rob Heroy. The lawyer estimates that the lawsuit costs "more than 50 million dollars". This process is probably the most expensive in the history of the United States.

Guzmán has been in solitary confinement in New York since his extradition from Mexico to the United States in January 2017. He is only allowed to receive his three lawyers and two daughters as visitors. The seven-year-old twins are separated from him by a thick glbad pane. His wife, former beauty queen Emma Coronel, aged 29, is not allowed to visit her.

The cartel of Sinaloa

The Sinaloa cartel is considered one of the most powerful crime syndicates in Mexico. The gang controls the smuggling of cocaine, heroin and marijuana into the United States. The cartel is taking advantage of the recent surge in heroin demand in the US and is pushing many intoxicants and narcotics into the market. He is also active in hacking and product trafficking.

The cartel was born in the late 1980s when the gang of drug traffickers Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo collapsed after his arrest. The brothers Arellano Felix founded the cartel Tijuana, Joaquín Guzmán, the competing cartel of Sinaloa.

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