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Penn secretly interviewed Mexican drug lord 'El Chapo'

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Press Trust of India Los Angeles
Last Updated : Jan 10 2016 | 3:22 PM IST
Hollywood star Sean Penn secretly met and interviewed infamous Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman Loera while he was on the run from authorities following a prison break six months ago.
Guzman, who had twice escaped jail, was recaptured on Friday by the Mexican authorities, who said it could be possible because he was reaching out to actors and producers for a biopic on his life, said the Hollywood Reporter.
Penn's interview with the drug lord was published by Rolling Stone magazine yesterday.
The actor travelled through Mexican jungle to meet with the drug lord in October. Guzman wanted Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, who facilitated Penn's interview, to be involved in the process. She was the same person who Guzman's people had contacted for the movie.
Describing his preparation before meeting the drug lord, Penn said he was using burner phones, "one per contact, one per day, destroy, burn, buy, balancing levels of encryption, mirroring through Blackphones, anonymous email addresses, unsent messages accessed in draft form."
Guzman told the Oscar-winner that he had begun to grow marijuana and poppies to improve the fortunes of his impoverished family while he was just 15.

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"I supply more heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana than anybody else in the world. I have a fleet of submarines, airplanes, trucks and boats," he told Penn.
Guzman does not consider himself a violent man despite the bloodshed involved in amassing his fortune, saying, "Look, all I do is defend myself, nothing more. But do I start trouble? Never."
Penn, who ate and drank with the drug lord's family, wrote that they talked for seven hours and Guzman was interested in the movie business and asked several questions related to it.
Mexican government sources said Penn and del Castillo "are under investigation for their 'interview' with Guzman", according to ABC News.
It is unclear if Penn's interview led authorities to Guzman.

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First Published: Jan 10 2016 | 3:22 PM IST

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