Writer Malcom Beith talks about following “El Chapo’s” manhunt

Another look at “El Chapo” from a writer who’s been following the drug lord for years. Malcolm Beith is the author of the “The Last Narco”

The writer moved to Mexico from Europe where he’s chronicled the international, multi-year manhunt of Guzman. Beith has written for CNN and the New York Times among other publications. His focus: the man caught — El Chapo.

“There’s a mythology built around him,” Beith said.

Beith who wrote the book “The Last Narco” has interviewed DEA agents, Mexican authorities and drug traffickers. Beith said El Chapo may be the last drug lord of his kind.

“Because of the aura that has been built up around this man, whether true or not whether by the media by officials by people by rivals that’s how he’s become the most powerful alleged drug lord in the world,” Beith said.

The writer said El Chapo has a power that can’t even be measured.

“Within Sinaloa there’s no doubt that there’s a power that he has the average politician does not have,” Beith said.

He compares El Chapo to the CEO of a giant company with employees around the world.

“Possibly as many as 150,000,” Beith said.

In 2012 the U.S Department of Treasury nick-named Guzman “the worlds most powerful drug trafficker.” In 2013 Forbes put El Chapo on a list of the worlds billionaires.

Beith argues there isn’t a exact science to putting a value on an underground drug lord but “there have been money laundering proceeds thought to be connected to the Sinaloa cartel with assests in eastern Europe, Colombia, the value once you start looking at the money it adds up,” Beith said.

Even with billions, Beith says the head of the Sinaola cartel doesn’t live a lavish lifestyle.

“The criminal world does not let you sleep and rest very easily. I think it’s impossible to settle and enjoy the fruits of their labor,” Beith said.

And if the past repeats itself Beith said there will be turmoil and instability in the world of drug trafficking.

“I think most definitely there will be some violence coming out of this whether it’s limited to Sinaloa, Sinaloa has actual already been flaring up in recent months, there will be more violence it always happens when a leader goes down,” Beith said.