El Chapo Interview

Fernando Jacinto Jacinto1
Journalistic Writing 102
18 September 2013
Hardebeck
Chapo Guzman: Leader, Criminal and Something More
The above title here would probably be the title of my interview with powerful Mexican
drug lord, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. If I chose him to be the person to interview, it is not
because I appraise his illegal activities or appreciate what he has stirred up in Mexico and the
United States, but because I want to know what goes behind the mind of Joaquin, as he is human
like everyone else and not a crazed money-earning, killing monster like the media always says. I
would like to interview Guzman anytime he is not in battle with the government or rival cartels
in a safe place where it would be just him and I. Personally, I would like to use a video camera
for the interview, but as Guzman would rather keep discrete from the public so no one will
realize where he is, my best option would probably be a tape recorder.
Journalists are a big target right now for criminal groups in Mexico. Even with just one
story mentioning any criminal activity caused by these groups, cartels will not tolerate journalists
exposing their horrid ways to the public and will find, torture and kill these journalists. As it
would be a risky attempt, my way of setting up an interview with Guzman would be to possibly
find a local plaza1
leader who is openly allied with Guzman and ask him if there is a way for me
to interview him. I would tell the truth saying that it is not to criticize “El Chapo’s” activities but
rather than to know Joaquin Guzman, the person, his life and what he cares about. I will
introduce myself as Fernando Jacinto, young journalist who has yet to make a name for himself
but promises to release this interview when the time is right or whenever Mr. Guzman orders.
1 Plaza- A nickname for a town or city controlled by a certain drug cartel. These are usually towns where
the cartel will control its drug trade and other activities behind the government’s back.

18 September 2013
Hardebeck
Maybe I will be taken to Guzman in a manner where it almost seems like they are
kidnapping me. Maybe his men will point their guns at me threatening to kill me. It may not be
a good impression at the start, yet I feel Guzman will have a heart and tell his men to take it easy
and know that I am not looking for trouble or to expose their troubles. As witnesses have said
that Guzman is known to be dangerous and clever in drug deals, they have also mentioned that
Guzman is also charming, a good friend to those he respects and likes and respectable himself.
So I have a feeling Guzman will invite to a drink or two, maybe try to get to know me better,
above all, will get me to like him. If he is willing to let me interview him, these would be the ten
questions I would ask him:
1. How do you compare your childhood when you were in poverty to now where you are
considered one of the richest men in the world? Did you ever imagine your days of selling
oranges as a child would pay off now that you control the selling of marijuana, meth and other
drugs?
2. Tell me about your family. How often do you spend time with them? Are you proud
that some members of your family have taken up to continue your business or would you rather
that they stay out of the business for security reasons?
3. What is your opinion about entertainment and when they portray you and your men?
Songs, shows and other forms of entertainment have praised you and your activities. Do you
enjoy the fact that they honor you? Do you believe they are considering you as a hero? Do you
feel respected because of this type of entertainment?

18 September 2013
Hardebeck
4. Do you believe that marijuana or even other drugs will be legalized in the United
States or Mexico or even both places? Can you compare yourself to other legendary criminals
like Al Capone or Pablo Escobar? The reason I mention Al Capone is because his activities
ended up resulting in the United States legalizing alcohol again. So I want to know, Mr. Guzman,
if you feel you will repeat history with the legalization of illicit drugs? This question may break
the ice with Guzman.
5. Do you feel that the competition is getting bigger or do you feel that you almost have
absolute control in the drug business? How come you and your competition do not team up with
each other to fight the government? Would that hurt business? What makes certain drugs cost
the way they do? How do you mange to make so much money from them? Is the United States
your best customer? Will drug consumption go up or down in the future?
6. Sources have said that drug cartels, such as yours and your rivals, have made pacts
with PRI2
while they had their 71 year control of Mexico in the past. These pacts supposedly
promised that while the cartels did not get involved with civilians, the government promised not
to criminalize the cartels for their actions. Then when PAN3
won in 2000, they promised to
criminalize all drug cartel members for their actions. During those 12 years of power of PAN,
you and your men have not only fought hard against your rivals, yet you and your rivals have
fought hard against the government, leaving more than 60,000 people dead. Many have feared
that history would repeat itself when PRI won in 2012, yet their candidate and current president,
2 PRI- “Partido Revolucionario Institucional” (Institutional Revolutionary Party); Mexican political party
who ran Mexico for 71 years before losing to PAN in 2000 in the presidential campaign for Mexico.
3 PAN- “Partido Accion Nacional (National Action Party); Political party in Mexico that won the
presidencies of 2000 and 2006 (Mexican presidents only serve one term for six years before leaving
office) and waged a major fight against drug cartels to criminalize them for their actions.

18 September 2013
Hardebeck
Enrique Pena Nieto promised that there will be no pacts and that they will continue the fight to
criminalize drug cartel members. It has been a year since Pena Nieto took office and I have been
hearing less news reports about another murder, capture or any other activity involving drug
cartels. Are there any pacts with anyone from the government at the moment? Do you feel that
cartels’ powers are starting to become less? Do you feel that the government is giving you and
your men a good fight?
7. Supposedly, leaders like you seem to always have the final word with the public. I
used to think that it did not matter what anyone would say, you had the power and that you
would continue your business. Yet it seems as if you will kill anyone who speaks bad of you,
your people and your activities. This is especially the case with journalists. Why do you murder
journalists if you do a good job in hiding? Do you feel that a journalist would be responsible if
you were to ever get captured or murdered? How important and powerful do you think a
journalist’s word is?
8. What is your opinion on Enrique Pena Nieto and Barrack Obama? Do you respect
them? Do you despise them? Is your goal to make them less powerful to the people or to let
them continue their work? Do they interfere your business whatsoever?
9. How does it feel that the FBI has you as the most wanted man on Earth? Do you feel
you are just as deadly as terrorists such as Osama Bin Laden? Do you feel that the FBI is being
mistaken? Do you consider yourself more dangerous to the public than helpful?
10. If question 4 did not brake the ice, this one may; you have probably murdered
thousands of people. These people include journalists, musicians, politicians, civilians and other

18 September 2013
Hardebeck
types of people. If governments condemn you, it is probably because they feel you have
murdered innocent victims in your path. How do you feel every time you murder someone?
Does it feel the same as when you murdered your first victim? Have you ever felt like you
accidentally murdered an innocent person? How does it feel when you realize you murdered
someone who is not a member of your cartel or a rival of your cartel? Do you feel your business
can still be powerful without murdering anyone who says the wrong thing?
Those are the ten questions I would ask Joaquin Guzman. Who knows if I would be alive
after that interview. Who knows if Guzman would have me tortured or sent home safely without
being touched. Who knows if I would ever get to release this interview if I can manage to
interview Guzman. All I know is, the drug business is not one to mess around with.
Works Cited
Stephy, M.J. "Joaquin Guzman Loera: Billionaire Drug Lord." TIME.com. Time World,
13 Mar. 2009. Web. 18 Sept. 2013.
<http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1884982,00.html>.

18 September 2013
Hardebeck
"Narcotics Rewards Program: Joaquin Guzman-Loera." U.S. Department of State. U.S.
Department of State, n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
<http://www.state.gov/j/inl/narc/rewards/115366.htm>.
Carlyle, Erin. "Billionaire Druglords: El Chapo Guzman, Pablo Escobar, The Ochoa
Brothers." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 13 Mar. 2012. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
<http://www.forbes.com/sites/erincarlyle/2012/03/13/billionaire-druglords-el-chapo-guzman-
pablo-escobar-the-ochoa-brothers/>.
Tasche, Kurt. "Empower Network." Kurt Tasches Blog. Empower Network, 23 Feb.
2013. Web. 19 Sept. 2013. <http://www.empowernetwork.com/kurttasche/biography-of-el-
chapo-guzman-el-chapo-guzman-dead/>.
Briscoe, Ivan. "Deals with the Devil: Negotiating With criminals." MafiaCo. Mafia&Co.,
1 June 2012. Web. 19 Sept. 2013. <http://mafiaandco.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/deals-with-the-
devil-negotiating-with-criminals/>.
"Mexico - Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)." Mexico - Institutional Revolutionary
Party (PRI). N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2013. <http://countrystudies.us/mexico/84.htm>.
Graham, Dave, and Miguel Angel Gutierrez. "Mexican Presidential Hopeful Vows Drugs
War Shift." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 26 Oct. 2011. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
<http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/27/us-mexico-election-creel-
idUSTRE79P8DS20111027>.

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