The criminal mastermind behind El Chapo’s tunnels

• He helped El Chapo escape.
• The architect of Joaquín Guzmán Loera’s tunnels.
• His nickname is ‘The Lord of the Tunnels’.

Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán is one of the most notorious drug traffickers of all time because of his undisputed power throughout his career in organized crime. However, there was a team that supported each of his plays. Here we present the criminal mastermind behind El Chapo’s tunnels.

Being the leader of Sinaloa cartel made El Chapo one of the most wanted men in Mexico and the United States. El Chapo was always alert and was always creating new strategies to quickly escape from anywhere — even from jail.

The criminal mastermind behind El Chapo’s tunnels

José Sánchez Villalobos, a 60-year-old architect had the skill to develop any structure that his client’s imagination came up with, no matter how dangerous or risky it may be.

He was one of the criminal masterminds, and part of the high command, of the Sinaloa Cartel. His brilliant way of creating unique architectural strategies and designs captivated Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, sparking the capo’s obsession with his impeccable work.

‘Lord of the Tunnels’

The first of his well-known works was a tunnel that linked a warehouse from Tijuana to Otay Mesa. It was a high-tech structure with things like a hydraulic elevator, electric cars, lighting, wooden floors, a cellar and luxury details.

This passageway was made with the purpose of secretly moving tons of marijuana to the north. When it was discovered, authorities described it as «one of the most elaborate tunnels» they had seen due to its advanced engineering and architecture.

New ways of transporting drugs

According to the Los Angeles Times, Sanchez Villalobos served as the highest-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel. Being in charge of the design, strategy and transportation of drugs across the border, his ingenuity made him a valuable asset.

Thanks to him, it was possible to smuggle large amounts of marijuana between Mexico and the United States, as well as within Mexico, according to records and court documents found in the San Diego archive.

El Chapo’s main financial operator

He is considered one of the biggest financial operators for El Chapo Guzmán. All this thanks to being the pioneer of the infamous narco tunnels. That positioned his boss Joaquín Guzmán as the leader of drug trafficking in Mexico, the United States and other countries.

The works created by Sanchez Villalobos stood out for being among the most sophisticated, having geolocators, manual operation and remote control, railways and the necessary comforts that a capo deserved.

He managed to get El Chapo out of jail

With a tunnel that was a masterpiece of engineering and architecture at 1.5 kilometers long and 1.7 meters high and 80 centimeters wide, Joaquín Guzmán Loera managed to escape from Almoloya. It was an escape that no one will ever forget.

This famous tunnel that facilitated El Chapo’s second escape connected the prison where the capo was held to a warehouse that had been set up a few kilometers away.

José Sánchez Villalobos was extradited to the US

The importance that Villalobos’ underground tunnels had for the Sinaloa Cartel and El Chapo caught the attention of law enforcement. Well, the work that Villalobos did was crucial for the expansion of drug dealing.

After a massive operation, ‘The Lord of the Tunnels’ was captured in Zapopan, Jalisco in 2013. After his arrest, the Attorney General’s Office extradited José Sánchez Villalobos to be tried by United States law. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Free again

After spending only two years in prison in the United States and seven years in prisons in Mexico, José Villalobos managed to regain his freedom, after serving some time in Mexico and time off for good behavior.

This sentence reduction was achieved after he complained that he was subjected to extreme and deplorable conditions in prison. They also violated his rights by keeping him isolated from his family for years.