The reward for providing any information leading to the recapture of Joaquín Guzmán Loera, aka El Chapo, was increased to $5 million by U.S. authorities Wednesday, after announcing its belief that he is still in Mexico.
"Where is he probably the safest and best protected? Probably Sinaloa," said Chuck Rosenberg, the acting head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in a briefing with reporters, referring to Guzman's Mexican home state, where he built up his drug cartel, according to the Huffington Post.
The reward is being offered by the State Department, while the DEA has set up a toll-free tip line for the public to report information that can lead to El Chapo's recapture, according to NBC News.
The tip line in the U.S. is 844-692-4101, the DEA said in a news release, according to the Chicago Tribune. Tips can also be emailed to chapotips@usdoj.gov.
Authorities also set up a new wanted poster, identifying Guzman as a top international fugitive.
Guzman "has destroyed lives and communities throughout the United States and Mexico, and his capture is a high priority for the DEA," said Rosenberg in a statement. "His escape poses a danger to the safety and security of both our countries."
Guzman broke out of a maximum security prison last month, escaping through a mile-long tunnel that opened up in his cell's shower.
He is wanted by U.S. authorities for an assortment of criminal charges, including cocaine smuggling and money laundering. A request for his extradition was made two weeks before his escape, but has since been suspended by Mexican authorities.
For more on HNGN's coverage of El Chapo, click HERE.
