Where is El Chapo now? What to know about the notorious cartel leader behind Netflix’s ‘Facing El Chapo’
Those recently watching ‘Facing El Chapo’ on Netflix may have been wondering what happened to the real-life drug lord at the center of the adventure film. Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán (the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel) is currently serving a life sentence in the United States’ federal prison, ADX Florence in Colorado. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Guzmán was found guilty of all charges brought against him in a federal court in February 2019. He was convicted of narcotics trafficking, use of a firearm in relation to drug dealing, and money-laundering conspiracy, with life imprisonment plus an additional 30 years for leading a drug cartel. The 10 counts in the indictment also included conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute a controlled substance. Besides the prison sentence, Guzmán was ordered to pay a $12.6 billion fine, according to the DOJ.
However, recent reports indicate that the drug lord has not vanished from the public eye. In 2026, Guzmán wrote letters to the U.S. government from the federal prison, saying that he wants to return to Mexico and complaining about the treatment he is receiving inside the prison. The former claim was confirmed in court documents published in May this year. They revealed that while serving a life sentence, Guzmán asked to be transferred back to Mexico. Additionally, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Guzmán used attorney visits to pass messages to his sons.
He made headlines when he managed to escape from Mexican authorities in 2001 and was caught in 2014. He evaded capture once again in July 2015 when he dug a tunnel under his cell in a maximum-security prison. However, Mexican authorities arrested him in January 2016 and transferred him to the United States, where he was officially extradited in January 2017. According to the DOJ, he has been convicted ever since.
The Netflix film is now bringing his story back in the spotlight. It debuted on the streaming service on August 21 and follows two Mexican police officers being drawn into a violent turf war between rival gangs after encountering a ruthless drug lord. As stated on the platform, the film is based on real events. The project has garnered significant attention, becoming the number one movie on Netflix globally. While ‘Facing El Chapo’ continues to soar, the real-life gangster at the center of the narrative remains in prison in Colorado.
