Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, escorted by soldiers, is paraded before the media at the Navy's airstrip in Mexico City.
Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, escorted by soldiers, is paraded before the media at the Navy's airstrip in Mexico City.

On Friday night, in an apartment in the Mexican coastal resort of Mazatlan, the world's most notorious drugs baron, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, was arrested after more than a decade on the run.

After breaking out of high security jail hidden in a laundry basket in 2001, Guzman built the Sinaloa Cartel into one of the world's most powerful crime organisations, its tentacles reaching from its mountainous heartland in north-western Mexico, into North America, Europe, and even as far as Australia.

In the process, Guzman was named one of the world's most powerful men by Forbes magazine, with a fortune estimated at approximately $1billion. He became almost a figure of legend: folk songs were composed in his honour, and his contacts reportedly extended to the top tiers of the political classes and security services.

He is believed to have orchestrated the wars with rival cartels over lucrative drug smuggling routes into the US that have transformed areas of Mexico into a war zone, leaving more than 80,000 dead since 2007.

Mexican authorities yesterday released this picture of Guzman immediately after his arrest. 'Big Strike' tweeted Mexican president Felipe Calderon.
Mexican authorities released this picture of Guzman immediately after his arrest. 'Big Strike' tweeted Mexican president Felipe Calderon.

In recent years, Guzman is believed to have narrowly evaded capture several times, once by reportedly dashing into a storm drain.

Last week, a raid by DEA assisted Mexican agents on a house in Culiacan uncovered a network of houses, connected by underground tunnels, which police believe Guzman used to evade capture.

He was tracked to the beach resort, where he was captured without a shot being fired, after two teams of marines overpowered his security teams.

A total of 97 large guns, 36 handguns, two grenade launchers, a rocket launcher and 43 vehicles, several of them armoured, were seized in the raid.

After being captured, Guzman was displayed to the media, cuffed and flanked by balaclava-clad Mexican marines. He was then taken by helicopter to a high-security prison facility.

"He got tired of living up in the mountains and not being able to enjoy the comforts of his wealth,"
Michael S Vigil, a former senior DEA official who was briefed on the operation, said.

Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, escorted by soldiers, is paraded before the media at the Navy's airstrip in Mexico City.
Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, is paraded before the media at the Navy's airstrip in Mexico City.
Guzman is escorted to a waiting heicopter by marines.
Guzman is escorted to a waiting helicopter by marines.
Guzman is seated on a federal police helicopter, ready to be transported to a high security detention facility.
Guzman is seated on a federal police helicopter, ready to be transported to a high security detention facility.
Military personell guard the Miramar complex in Mazatlan, where Guzman was arrested.
Military personnel guard the Miramar complex in Mazatlan, where Guzman was arrested.
'El Chapo captured', reads the headline in the afternoon edition of Mexican daily AP.
'El Chapo Captured', reads the headline in the afternoon edition of Mexican daily PM.
A man poses for a picture outside the apartment buildin in Mazatlan where Guzman was seized.
A man poses for a picture outside the apartment building in Mazatlan where Guzman was seized.
Altiplano prison in Almoloya de Juarez, where according to Mexican media Guzman is currently being held.
Altiplano prison in Almoloya de Juarez, where according to Mexican media Guzman is currently being held.