Desire for biopic gets drug kingpin El Chapo re-arrested

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexican marines had barely faced down.50-caliber sniper guns and a loaded grenade launcher to recapture the world's most notorious drug lord when the calls started coming: Extradite Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States.

Mexican officials could fulfill the extradition request for Joaquin Guzman as early as mid-year, according to Reuters.

"Given that "El Chapo" has already escaped from Mexican prison twice, this third opportunity to bring him to justice can not be squandered", said USA senator and Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio.

CCTV footage of his 11 July escape showed Guzman pacing his cell several times before heading into the shower area and disappearing at the maximum-security Altiplano jail.

Gomez added, "Another important aspect that allowed [us] to locate him was having discovered the intention of Guzman to shoot a biographical film, for which he established contact with actresses and producers". "We need to extradite him to the United States", tweeted Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas and chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

IN this photo taken Friday Oct. 16, 2015 T-shirts featuring fugitive Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman hang for sale inside the shrine of a faith healer in Mexico City, Friday, Oct. 16, 2015. The tunnel extended for about a mile underground and featured an adapted motorcycle on rails that officials believe was used to transport the tools used to create the tunnel, Monte Alejandro Rubido, the head of the Mexican national security commission, said in July after Guzman's escape.

Attorney General Arely Gomez said the Sinaloa drug cartel boss was being "taken again" to the Altiplano prison, some 90km west of Mexico City, alongside his security chief.

The quickest he could be extradited would be six months, said a federal official who spoke on condition of anonymity, but it's not likely because lawyers file appeals.

News has learned from multiple US sources that Hollywood producers seeking to turn the Sinaloa cartel chieftain's life story into a movie notified USA officials that they were working on the biopic and were headed to Mexico for research. He reportedly used a motor bike to complete his escape.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of NY is writing a formal extradition request to the Mexican government, Nellin McIntosh, a spokeswoman for the office said Saturday.

The Justice Department previously sought his extradition to the United States. Experts say the legal process could be lengthy and Guzman's attorney is saying he'll battle extradition in the courts.

Marines almost recaptured him in October in a remote mountain region. It was a major embarrassment to the administration of President Pena Nieto, which had been praised for its aggressive push against Mexico's top drug traffickers.

He had been on the lam for 13 years after escaping a first time in 2001 from another prison by hiding in a laundry cart.

After his daring escape - his second in 14 years - Guzman also went about building more tunnels.

Guzman escaped through a rectangular hole found underneath a shower of his prison cell, moving through a fully ventilated tunnel equipped with electric lighting.

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