Jan 10, 2016

In villages nestled amid the jagged mountains where captured Mexican kingpin Joaquin “Shorty” Guzman was born, the drug trade that dominates the local economy is already breeding the next generation of smugglers and gunslingers. Guzman, recaptured Friday after a second escape from prison nearly six months ago, started life in the village of La Tuna high in the sierra of Mexico’s northwestern state of Sinaloa. Marijuana and the poppies used for opium have been grown here for decades, fueling the rise of successive dynasties of famous drug lords.

In these 2014 photos, Reuters photographer Daniel Becerril took a look inside some of the tunnels of drug kingpin Chapo, who was captured in Sinaloa Friday after a gun battle.

: A Mexican marine lifts a bathtub that leads to a tunnel and exits in the city’s drainage system at one of the houses of Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman in Culiacan February 27, 2014. Guzman, who rose from humble origins to become one of the most powerful drug barons in history, was captured on Friday in Sinaloa. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

: A drain exit which leads to a tunnel underneath one of the houses of Joaquin “Chapo”Guzman is seen in a neighborhood in Culiacan February 25, 2014. Guzman, who rose from humble origins to become one of the most powerful drug barons in history, was captured on Friday in Sinaloa. Picture taken February 25, 2014. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

: A Reuters journalist stands outside a steel door leading from the city’s drainage system into a tunnel underneath one of the houses of Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman in Culiacan February 25, 2014. Guzman, who rose from humble origins to become one of the most powerful drug barons in history, was captured on Friday in Sinaloa. Picture taken February 25, 2014. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

: Journalists use flashlights while walking through the city’s drainage system towards a tunnel that comes out of one of the houses of Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman in Culiacan February 25, 2014. Guzman, who rose from humble origins to become one of the most powerful drug barons in history, was captured on Friday in Sinaloa. Picture taken February 25, 2014. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

: A steel ladder leads to the bottom of a removable bathtub at one of the houses of Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman, inside a tunnel leading to the city’s drainage system in Culiacan February 25, 2014. Guzman, who rose from humble origins to become one of the most powerful drug barons in history, was captured on Friday in Sinaloa. Picture taken February 25, 2014. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

: The bottom of a removable bathtub at one of the houses of Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman is seen inside a tunnel leading to the city’s drainage system in Culiacan February 25, 2014. Guzman, who rose from humble origins to become one of the most powerful drug barons in history, was captured on Saturday in a raid in the beachside resort and fishing center of Mazatlan, 125 miles southeast of Culiacan, just days after escaping from the clutches of Mexican troops through a tunnel and sewers. Picture taken February 25, 2014. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

: A steel ladder leads to the bottom of a removable bathtub at one of the houses of Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman, inside a tunnel leading to the city’s drainage system in Culiacan February 25, 2014. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

: A tunnel from one of the houses of Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman leading to the city’s drainage system is pictured in Culiacan February 25, 2014. Guzman, who rose from humble origins to become one of the most powerful drug barons in history, was captured on Friday in Sinaloa. Picture taken February 25, 2014. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

: An open steel door leads from a tunnel underneath one of the houses of Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman to the city’s drainage system in Culiacan February 25, 2014. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

: Part of the city’s drainage system which leads to a tunnel underneath one of the houses of Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman is seen in Culiacan February 25, 2014. Guzman, who rose from humble origins to become one of the most powerful drug barons in history, was captured on Friday in Sinaloa. Picture taken February 25, 2014. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

: A Mexican Marine stands in the city’s drainage system after walking through a connecting tunnel underneath the houses of Mexican kingpin Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman during a presentation for the media n Culiacan February 27, 2014. Guzman, who rose from humble origins to become one of the most powerful drug barons in history, was captured on Friday in Sinaloa. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

: A Mexican Marine points his weapon in the city’s drainage system after walking through a connecting tunnel underneath the houses of Mexican kingpin Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman during a presentation for the media in Culiacan February 27, 2014. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

: A Mexican Marine stands in the bedroom of one of the houses of Mexican kingpin Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman during a presentation for the media in Culiacan February 27, 2014. Guzman, who rose from humble origins to become one of the most powerful drug barons in history, was captured on Friday in Sinaloa. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

Reporting and photos by Reuters.

Inside drug kingpin Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman’s secret tunnels

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