The Mexican drug lord, Joaquín Guzmán, is one of the most infamous criminals in recent history. Capturing global media attention, the exploits of this criminal have earned him fame and detainment. This research paper will investigate the rise of Joaquín Guzmán and discuss the impact of the criminal empire that he built. It will explore his major achievements and reign of power, as well as the effects he had on the international community. By gathering data from reliable sources, this paper will attempt to shed light on any discrepancies between the man and the myth in an effort to provide a more nuanced appraisal of Joaquín Guzmán.
Joaquín Guzmán, commonly known as El Chapo, is one of the most notorious drug lords the world has ever seen. According to A Guillermo Prieto in the Berkeley Review of Latin American Studies in 2009, Guzmán was the
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According to JS Beittel of the Congressional Research Service, his rise to power in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Mexico facilitated “the transformation of the Mexican drug trafficking industry from its traditional local-level operations to a transnational criminal enterprise” (Beittel, 2015). Under Guzmán’s leadership, Mexican cartels were able to expand their operations beyond Mexico’s borders, leading to an increase in the production, distribution and sale of drugs in the United States. Guzmán’s influence also allowed the cartels to diversify their operations, as they moved away from traditional drugs such as marijuana and began producing and distributing synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin. This diversification of the drug market has had a devastating effect on the United States, as drug-related deaths and overdoses have steadily increased over the past two decades. Guzmán’s influence on the drug trafficking industry is undeniable and his legacy will likely continue to be felt for many years to