Actor’s interview gives up Mexican notorious drug dealer
Hollywood actor Sean Penn interviewed Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman at a secret location soon after his jail break.
The interview, conducted in October in the Mexican jungle, has been published in last Saturday's edition of Rolling Stone.
Guzman escaped from the maximum security Altiplano jail in July and was recaptured last Friday.
Unnamed Mexican officials say Penn's secret meeting helped lead them to the fugitive who is back in Altiplano.
Their comments chime with public pronouncements by Mexican Attorney General Arely Gomez, who said last Friday that an important aspect of his recapture "was discovering Guzman's intention to have a biographic film made".
"He contacted actresses and producers, which was part of one line of investigation."
In the Rolling Stone article, the result of a seven-hour "sit-down", Penn and Guzman discuss various topics, including drug trafficking.
Guzman, 58, is quoted as saying: "If there was no consumption, there would be no sales.''
He also rejects responsibility for drug addiction, saying "the day I don't exist, it's not going to decrease in any way at all".
Who is 'El Chapo' Guzman?
The meeting, apparently arranged by Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, took place in a remote part of Durango state, a Mexican official told Associated Press. Durango borders Sinaloa state, the centre of Guzman's operations.
A picture of Guzman in Rolling Stone shaking hands with Penn is dated October 2. Two weeks later, the Mexican authorities reported that the cartel leader narrowly evaded recapture in north-west Mexico and suffered face and leg injuries as he fled.
The authorities said they could have fired on Guzman at his hideout, but decided against because he was with two women and a child.
Another source, quoted by Reuters, said the Mexicans were considering investigating Penn and Castillo.
Asked whether Penn could face charges over his contacts with the drugs lord, US Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr said "we do not have any comment or additional information at this time."
