DEA Announces Tip Line, Wanted Poster For Chapo

WASHINGTON, DC – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced today a toll-free tip line where the general public in the United States, Mexico, Central  and South America can report any information that could aid in the apprehension of Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman-Loera, who escaped a Mexican prison in July.

The tip line will be managed by the DEA San Diego Division. In addition to the tip line, the public can email tips to CHAPOTIPS@USDOJ.GOV. In concert with the launch of the tip line, DEA has also released a wanted poster that contains the number, email address, and the U.S. State Department reward of up to $5 million for the arrest and conviction of Chapo. The poster can be found at DEA.gov. 

“Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman-Loera has destroyed lives and communities throughout the United States and Mexico and his capture is a high priority for DEA,” said Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg.  “His escape poses a danger to the safety and security of both our countries.  DEA will continue to work closely with our Mexican counterparts and provide as many resources as possible to ensure his arrest.” 

 The tip line number in the United States is (844) 692-4101 and outside the U.S. the number is 001-844-692-4101.

Guzman-Loera was arrested on June 9, 1993, in Mexico on charges related to murder and drug trafficking and was sentenced to a 20 year prison term. However, on January 19, 2001, Guzman-Loera escaped from the federal maximum security prison in Jalisco, Mexico. While on the run from Mexican authorities, Guzman-Loera re-established himself as the top ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel and leader of the Mexican drug trade, becoming the world’s #1 fugitive and a Forbes-listed billionaire. He was rearrested on February 22, 2014, in a modest resort hotel in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. On July 11, 2015, he again escaped from Altiplano federal maximum security prison in the State of Mexico.

Guzman-Loera was in charge of the Guzman-Loera drug trafficking organization (DTO), which in turn, is part of the larger Sinaloa Cartel. Under the leadership of Guzman-Loera and his partner, Ismael Zambada-Garcia, the Sinaloa Cartel controls vast trafficking operations on an international scale, with the majority of its drugs being distributed to the United States. The Sinaloa Cartel bases its operations principally in the Mexican states of Sinaloa, Sonora, Durango and Baja California, although it also has representation in several other states throughout the Republic. In addition to its distribution cells in the United States, the DTO transports drug shipments to Canada, Australia, Europe, Africa and Asia. Their organization smuggles multi-ton cocaine shipments from South America through Central America into Mexico. They are also involved in the manufacture, transport and distribution of methamphetamine and heroin. Additionally, the organization operates several large scale marijuana plantations in Sinaloa and surrounding areas. The Sinaloa Cartel organization relies on bulk currency shipments to move drug proceeds across the United States-Mexico border.

Guzman-Loera has been charged with drug trafficking and related crimes in several U.S. District Courts, to include the District of Arizona, the Southern District of California, the Western District of Texas, the Northern District of Illinois, the Eastern District of New York, and the Southern District of Florida. The first U.S. indictment against Guzman-Loera was unsealed in San Diego on September 28, 1995, charging him and 22 members of his organization with conspiracy to import over eight tons of cocaine and money laundering.