Did Mexico nab El Chapo Guzmán? Yep, and it even put him on display

Mexican Attorney General Jesús Murillo Karam finally took the stage just after 2:00 p.m., confirming the identification as "100% certain." Minutes later Mexican marines escorted the Man Himself - El Chapo - across the tarmac to a waiting Blackhawk military helicopter

*This story was posted at 10:49 a.m. It was revised throughout the day as developments warranted*
Guadalajara -
Mexico's Milenio news network is reporting at this hour that the most wanted drug trafficker in the world, Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquín El Chapo Guzmán, may have been captured last night in the Pacific coast city of Mazatlán.

The Associated Press reported the detention as confirmed, saying the cartel boss was caught in a hotel. AP cited an unidentified U.S. official as its source.

Guzmán, whose current age is either 56 or 59, escaped from a high security Mexican prison in January 2001, concealed in a laundry cart. He has evaded many close encounters with security forces in this country over the past 13 years.

El Chapo ("Shorty"), already a legend when he made his getaway during the second month of Vicente Fox's presidential term (2000-2006), managed to dodge his successor Felipe Calderón (2006-2012) as well. Calderón, who launched Mexico's drug war 10 days after taking office, desperately wanted to decommission the billionaire Sinaloa boss, who as a child sold candies and trinkets on the street.

During the past week Mexican army troops, who are at the forefront of the brutal 86 month old conflict, conducted intense operations in and around Mazatlán and Culiacán, Sinaloa, Guzmán's primary base of operations. Several high ranking officials of the cartel, which in Mexico is often called the Cartel of the Pacific, were taken into custody.

News reports say the United States participated in yesterday's operation with critical intelligence. Guzmán - or whoever was arrested last night - has been taken to the offices of Mexico's Organized Crime Strike Force (SEIDO) in Mexico City for interrogation.

This man, arrested by Mexican security in a Mazatlán condominium, has been identified as Guzmán

The U.S. and Mexico have offered combined rewards of $7 million dollars for the elusive Guzmán. Authorities in this country have scheduled an 11:30 a.m. press conference to discuss the case.

Update: That 11:30 a.m. press conference finally got underway at Mexico City's International Airport just after 2:00 p.m. Attorney General Karam spoke for no more than five minutes, stating that the arrest was made at 6:40 this morning, not yesterday. Then the fallen Sinaloa boss was paraded past reporters. The Peña Nieto administration has staunchly avoided the so-called "perp walk" for captured narco kingpins during its 15 months in office, but the temptation today must have just been too great. Guzmán looked more than healthy, wearing a clean white shirt, hair neatly combed and sporting a bit of a gut. Some serious tread mill time may be on his agenda after Mexico and the U.S. (how he must dread the latter thought) sentence him to forever and a day (Guzmán indicted by feds in El Paso).

Feb. 23 - Guzmán's sons threaten violence, while U.S. congressman calls for immediate extradition
Feb. 22 - Enrique finally gets the Biggest Enchilada (watch his perp walk)

MGR reports 2013
Dec. 27 - Philippines on the alert for presence of Sinaloa Cartel
Apr. 30 - Mexico refused U.S. offer to "take out El Chapo Guzmán"
Apr. 21 - Mexican drug cartels "have their tentacles in Canada," reports Montreal newspaper
Apr. 12 - Mexican drug cartels have strong foothold in Europe
Mar. 26 - Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel has 90% market domination in U.S.
Feb. 14 - Chicago calls El Chapo Guzmán "Public Enemy # 1"
Feb. 11 - The Chicago Connection: Sinaloa Cartel moves cocaine from Windy City to Australia
Feb. 10 - Mexican marines arrest chief executioner for El Chapo Guzmán in Sinaloa state
Jan. 13 - Mexican drug cartels operate in 1,286 U.S. cities

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