Greetings,
The streets are quite this morning and the newspapers are selling out on every corner as you can imagine. The rumors are flying and people all have an opinion on the future of the Sinaloa Cartel as well as what to expect in the upcoming days as the Country decides whether to extradite him immediately or not. Obviously if they wait, he will buy his way out in a matter of hours. I understand they are taking him to BCS and from there to the US.
Last year one early morning, Maya and I headed down to the beach. As we approached the stairs, two men were busy talking and kindly acknowledged us as we got closer. I was stunned to recognize El Chapo within seconds and quickly looked around to see where the army of body guards might be but they appeared to be alone in their chat. Right away El Chapo greeted me with a very pleasant grin and asked about Maya (who, as you know, looks like a police dog) and why we were down there so early and what I was doing living in Mazatlan. He asked where I was from and I chose to say Holland. The other guy turned and both of them seemed delighted that I should be from one of their favorite places. I explained that my father had mines in Chihuahua and he quickly told me about his ranches in Durango and other parts of his beloved country and wanted to know where our property was. I mentioned El Pilar and Polbosa, which he even seemed to recognize. This banter went on for at least ten minutes with the other guy introducing himself as Norweigan and how he loved Mexico. They said they had a furniture factory and that they were going to be exporting lots of Mexican furniture. JaJaJa.
I was so nervous and kept wondering where his people were because we all knew he was hiding in plain site but I didn’t see anyone. Just then a transito pulled up and I had a chance to move down the stairs a bit, actually thinking this may be the moment until I remembered he had everyone on his payroll and indeed they got out of the car with open arms, hugs and slapping each others backs with joy and camaraderie. Then another transito pulled up and I started thinking I really need to get out of here but how? During a certain time of year the sand moves to the other end of the bay and we were in a section with very little beach. Maya had already down her business and I wondered if I was actually going to find my story ending with me being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But El Chapo watched us out of the corner of his eye and could see we needed to come back up. He asked all the guys to clear a path and let this lovely lady from Holland pass through, as he said. whew!!!! As we passed we shook hands and I nodded with the transitos. I wondered if he noticed how nervous I was but in the moment, I thought I did pretty well considering I was shooting the sh-t with this notorious drug lord. He was so pleasant and accommodating and I can understand now how he was hiding in public.
Yesterday morning as we made the turn on the Malecon a couple of miles from here a huge convoy was approaching, lights flashing, no sirens, three army trucks loaded with hooded soldiers led the way, followed by two grey bullet proof suburban’s and then another three army trucks. It was fairly early guessing around 7:30 or a little later since we were coming home. I thought maybe they had been out during the night patrolling and it wasn’t until I got home that I heard the news. I wonder when they drove by, if El Chapo could see the Dutch lady with her big dog watching the convoy passed by.
Its hard to know who will be trying to control or fight to control within his own organization but my guess is he has back up Plan # 1-2-3-4-5 ready for action. Of course there are lots of very nervous people now and two new narco banks may close their doors tomorrow or may not even open them at all.. The tentacles reach all over the world, with shipping containers of money and truck loads of money finding there way to Europe, Africa, China and so, who knows. Just moving those amounts of cash must be extraordinary.
The people here feel sorry for him and the news say, our Robin Hood has fallen, but its hard to feel that way when bodies were swinging from bridges a few years ago and thousands of people are addicted to drugs ,thanks to him. The Columbians and Peruvians have already said they don’t want to work or trust anyone else so the positioning of the individuals may bring some violence to the US or Mexico. One thing is for sure, that until its business as usual again, the US is going to go through major withdrawals. Now would be a good time to open a chain of rehab centers!
Coming through DFW early March to CZM for a couple of weeks. Life is great on my side of the street! Hope to see your finished project soon!
I sent a friend of mine an email that lives in Matzalan an email when I’d seen El Chapo had been captured.