COULD EL CHAPO ALREADY BE IN CUSTODY?

Some sources claim that Mexico’s most wanted cartel leader has actually been in custody since last month and the official announcement is being withheld for political gain.

From Borderland Beat:

THE CAPTURE OF EL CHAPO COULD GIVE A BIG BOOST TO JOSEPHINA VAZQUEZ MOTA IN THE RACE FOR THE PRESIDENCY

Vanguardia
April 20, 2012

With a little over two months until the presidential elections in Mexico, the capture of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman could be a historic achievement for President Felipe Calderon, and consequently, a huge boost for candidate Josefina Vazquez Mota.

The world's most wanted drug lord who escaped from the Mexican authorities in January 2001, could return to prison "soon," according to press statements from Attorney General Cuitlahuac Salinas who heads the organization Specialized Investigation of Organized Crime, who said that a few weeks ago “El Chapo” almost got caught.

If the arrest of the capo is realized during this electoral process, the political party of Calderon could get a "sweet trophy," contrary to the negative publicity that has been seen since the begin he took office in 2006 when he declared war on organized crime gangs.

This triumph for Calderon could also benefit PAN candidate Josefina Vazquez Mota who could garnish support from the Mexican people, and thus help improve her rankings among the polls in the elections coming up on July 1.

Currently Vazquez Mota is not well positioned in the national polls and public opinion, but an event of this magnitude before the election could change the scenario that currently places the PRI candidate Enrique Peña Nieto as the leading candidate to occupy the presidential seat.

The Mexican prosecutor said authorities in the country are focused in capturing the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, and produce good results to the public.

According to a column in El Financiero "El Chapo" Guzman is already being held as a protected witness and soon will be presented to the media. There are unconfirmed reports that authorities managed to arrest El Chapo in the middle of March during a raid in Los Cabos.

But as we know, different versions come and different versions go, but a return to prison for the capo would weigh too much for the Mexican country and abroad, mainly the United States where authorities seek his capture and have the checkbook ready to pay whatever cost.

Some government analysts predict that the arrest of Guzman could unleash a wave of bloody violence between lieutenants and allied groups for control of the Sinaloa cartel and could be the reason for the hesitation to announce a possible arrest, that is, if it did happen at all.