El Chapo's bungling gang broke into wrong jail cell in botched 2015 escape bid

Now in custody, Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman faces extradition to US for drug and murder trials.

Drug kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's inept henchman broke into the wrong prison cell before his successful jailbreak, say reports. The Mexican, who was once the most powerful drug dealer on the planet, was sprung from his prison cell for the second time on 8 July 2015.

Yet it has now emerged that his bungling henchman had to dig a second escape route tunnel after their first attempt had ended up under the wrong cell. The mishap at the high-security Altiplano prison reportedly delayed his escape by three months.

Guzman's elaborate escape reportedly involved Mexican engineers travelling to Germany to learn specialist skills in mining, as well as the use of a specially adapted underground motorbike.

The drug baron disappeared through his shower cell into a mile-long tunnel and vanished for six months before being recaptured in January this year.

As he awaits extradition to the US to face drug charges, Mexican magazine Proceso quoted him as telling investigators: "It was not complicated. The first time they wanted to get me out they got the cell wrong, but later they corrected and I left."

El Chapo, sometimes called 'Shorty' for his small stature, was recaptured in the city of Los Mochis after a fierce gun battle in his former stronghold of Sinaloa, which gave its name to his infamous Sinaloa cartel. Five of his men were killed during the gun fight.

The elusive billionaire tried to flee through a sewer but was captured and since he was returned to prison has been complaining that he is depressed after "psychological torture" by prison guards and a lack of conjugal visits.

Once the world's most wanted drug dealer, Guzman was jailed for 20 years in 1993. He escaped from prison first in 2001, concealed in laundry, before being recaptured in February 2014. Next year the 59-year-old faces extradition to both California, for drug distribution, and to Texas, where he is expected to face trial in a federal court in connection with murder and money laundering.