Journalists have been allowed into the cell of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán at Mexico’s Altiplano prison, revealing the square hole in the shower floor through which the drug lord escaped last Saturday. The hole, measuring about 50cm on each side, leads to a sophisticated tunnel that emerged about a mile away.
The cell, located in a high-security wing, contains a wash basin, latrine, concrete stool, and a small slab used as a desk. A barred window provides ventilation and a view of barbed wire and grey sky. The shower area has a chest-high wall that shielded Guzmán from a surveillance camera, which was supposed to be monitored around the clock.
Security footage released earlier this week shows Guzmán pacing his cell, examining the shower area, then removing his shoes before dropping out of sight behind the wall. He was not seen again. The government has admitted that Guzmán almost certainly received help from prison officials, and a full investigation has been promised.
Questions remain about how the tunnel was built undetected, as breaking through the shower floor would have made significant noise. The tunnel’s precise alignment with the camera’s blind spot suggests that someone provided Guzmán’s engineers with prison plans. Officials are also seeking clarity on the time between Guzmán’s disappearance and the alarm being raised, with reports suggesting a delay of up to half an hour.
