Mexico says drug lord Guzman avoids capture, hurts self

Authorities in Mexico say fugitive drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman escaped a recent operation to recapture him in northwest of the country, injuring himself in the rush.

“Due to these actions and to avoid his arrest, the fugitive escaped in a hurry, which according to the information that was collected, caused him injuries to his leg and face,” said an official government statement issued on Friday.

The statement further said, “It is important to specify that these injuries were not the product of a direct clash.”

The statement, however, did not elaborate on the extent of his injuries.

Guzman made a prison escape on July 11, when he crawled through a hole leading to a huge tunnel under his cell shower.

According to Mexican officials, the efforts to recapture Guzman were concentrated in the country’s northwest region in the past weeks based on intelligence shared with Mexico by unspecified foreign governments.

A newly-leaked video of his escape was broadcast by the local Televisa channel this week, showing that loud hammering could be heard in Guzman’s cell just moments before he slipped down the hole.

It then took prison guards about 40 minutes to get inside his cell following his escape.

Over a dozen prison authorities have been arrested over allegations that they had assisted in his jailbreak.

The government statement issued on Friday after the failed attempt to re-arrest Guzman said, “The security cabinet continues to conduct all actions that will allow the recapture of this criminal.”

Meanwhile, US authorities have been cited in press reports as saying that the 58-year-old drug lord likely fled to the rugged mountainous region of his home state of Sinaloa, where he reportedly enjoys the support of the local population.

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