Drug Kingpin “El Chapo” Spoke of Buying Cocaine in Belize

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman

It is no secret that Belize’s location makes the country vulnerable to transnational organized criminal groups such as the drug cartels. In recent months, we have seen an alarming number of drug plans land across the country. And on January third, Vicente Zambada, son of one of the bosses of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel, dropped a bombshell during the court proceedings in the U.S. against drug kingpin, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Zambada testified that El Chapo’s Sinaloa Cartel had infiltrated Belize, establishing links in the country as part of his international network of drug operations. El Chapo’s trial continued on Wednesday and Belize was mentioned once again. Text messages exchanged between the notorious Mexican drug lord and his wife were read in court in the U.S. by a federal agent. The couple discussed major cocaine shipments, but also more mundane things, like their children. In relation to Belize, a text message sent by El Chapo to his wife speaks of buying between six hundred and thirty to seven hundred tonnes of cocaine in Belize. That was the only mention, but it is expected that the extent of El Chapo’s links to Belize would be revealed as the trial proceeds.