Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Las Vegas Sol:

Documentary questions arrest of Mexican drug lord

Film chronicling capture of ‘El Chapo’ Guzman opens in Las Vegas

Es El Chapo - Is it El Chapo

Courtesy of Charlie Minn

The documentary film “¿Es El Chapo?” from director Charlie Minn, explores the arrest of the Sinaloa drug cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

In February, Mexican federal agents stormed a hotel in the beach town of Mazatlan and arrested the kingpin of a $3 billion drug operation, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

The Mexican government hailed it as a major victory in Mexico’s war with drug cartels, but doubts clouded the arrest.

How was the notorious leader of the powerful Sinaloa cartel captured so easily? Are they even sure it really is El Chapo?

Director Charlie Minn has made four documentary movies in four years about violence and drug cartels in Mexico.

His latest film, “¿Es El Chapo?” (Is it El Chapo?), which opens in Las Vegas today, investigates the questions surrounding the capture of El Chapo.

“Chapo is an iconic figure,” Minn said about the kingpin whose nickname translates to “shorty.”

“He’s in narco-corridos. He’s in Forbes magazine’s list of wealthiest people. He’s public enemy number one in Chicago.”

The first question: How did Mexican law enforcement capture one of the biggest drug lords in Mexican history without any bullets being fired?

The circumstances surrounding the arrest led to speculation that not everything was as it seemed. Some have postulated that Chapo cut a deal with the administration of new President Enrique Peña Nieto, and will live comfortably in jail while teaming up with the government to combat rival drug gang Los Zetas.

Others have questioned whether it was actually El Chapo who was taken away by the Mexican authorities.

“As soon as I heard about the story, I felt something was very suspicious about it,” said Minn. “Not a single shot was fired. Why was this billionaire at an $89 a night condominium? To save money? … Uncertainty has never been higher. The country isn’t celebrating, it’s suspicious.”

Through interviews with experts on Mexico’s drug cartels, authorities on both sides of border and residents of Chapo’s hometown among others, Minn asks whether it really was El Chapo who was captured in Mazatlan.

Minn visits with Anabel Hernandez, one of Mexico’s most prominent journalists covering the drug cartels and federal government, and the author of “Narcoland: The Mexican Drug Lords and Their Godfathers.” Hernandez flatly says she doesn’t know if the real Guzman is in custody, and takes aim at the Mexican’s governments drug war.

“In this fake war on drugs, society is the victim,” she tells Minn.

“¿Es El Chapo?” is showing at the Regal Village Square Stadium 18, and will be in town for at least a week.

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