If you’re wondering where is El Chapo today, the answer isn’t a hidden ranch in the mountains of Sinaloa or a luxury villa with a gold-plated bathroom. He is in Colorado. Specifically, he's at the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility—better known as ADX Florence. This place is basically the end of the line. People call it the "Alcatraz of the Rockies," and for good reason. It’s the most secure prison on the planet, designed specifically so people like Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera never, ever get out.
Honestly, it’s a far cry from his days running the Sinaloa Cartel. Back then, he was the world’s most powerful drug trafficker. He escaped Mexican prisons twice—once in a laundry cart (allegedly) and once through a mile-long tunnel equipped with a ventilated motorcycle. But the U.S. federal system is a different beast entirely. Since his sentencing in 2019, he hasn’t seen a glimpse of the outside world that wasn’t through a four-inch-wide slit in a concrete wall.
The Daily Routine at ADX Florence
Life for Guzmán right now is remarkably quiet. And lonely. Most inmates at ADX Florence spend 23 hours a day inside a 7-by-12-foot concrete cell. The bed is a concrete slab. The desk is a concrete slab. Even the stool is made of—you guessed it—concrete. This is a "supermax" existence, which means total isolation.
You’ve probably heard stories about his mental health. His lawyers have been pretty vocal about it, claiming the "psychological torment" is breaking him. He’s complained about the water quality and the lack of sunlight. In fact, he even sent a "SOS" message to the Mexican president a while back, begging to be moved back to a Mexican prison. That didn't work. The U.S. government isn't about to risk another tunnel incident.
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Recent court filings from early 2025 and 2026 actually give us a weirdly specific detail about his neighbors. For over five years, Guzmán has been housed in a special wing called "The Suites" alongside a mob con artist named Jimmy Sabatino. They are the "most restricted" inmates in America. They aren't allowed to talk to other prisoners, but they’ve reportedly spent years shouting to each other through their cell doors just to keep some semblance of sanity. The FBI monitors every single word they say.
Is He Still Running the Cartel?
This is the big question everyone asks when they look into where is El Chapo today. Can he still pull the strings from a supermax cell?
The short answer is: probably not.
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The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has him under "Special Administrative Measures" (SAMs). This means his mail is screened, his rare phone calls are recorded, and he can only talk to a very small list of people—mostly his legal team and his twin daughters. His wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro, was released from her own prison stint recently, but she hasn't been allowed to visit him.
Meanwhile, the world he left behind is falling apart. Or at least, it's changing. His sons, known as "Los Chapitos," took over a large chunk of the business, but they've been under heavy fire. Ovidio Guzmán López was extradited to the U.S. not long ago, and Joaquin and Ovidio recently pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in Chicago.
The New Power Players
While El Chapo sits in a silent cell in Colorado, the Sinaloa Cartel has fractured.
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- The Sons: Ivan Archivaldo and Jesus Alfredo are still out there, but they're fighting a multi-front war.
- The Old Guard: Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada was the long-time partner who survived while Chapo fell, though the leadership dynamics are always shifting.
- The New Blood: In early 2026, reports emerged about a "New Chapo"—Fausto Isidro Meza Flores (El Chapo Isidro). He's supposedly the one benefiting most from the internal wars between the other factions.
Why He Won't Be Leaving Colorado
Don't expect a third escape. ADX Florence was built to be escape-proof. There are hundreds of cameras, motion sensors, and pressure pads. The "recreation" area is basically a high-walled concrete pit where you can't even see the mountains, only the sky.
Guzmán is serving life plus 30 years. He was also ordered to forfeit over $12.6 billion. That’s a "B," by the way. The U.S. government hasn't actually recovered all that cash—it's likely buried or laundered into a million different places—but it ensures he stays legally buried too. His latest appeals to overturn the 2019 conviction were rejected by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The judges basically said the trial was fair and the solitary confinement doesn't violate his rights given his history.
What This Means for You
Staying updated on the "Narco World" is basically like watching a real-life Succession, but with much higher stakes. If you're following this story, here are a few things to keep an eye on:
- Extradition Trends: Watch how the U.S. handles his sons. The "Chapo" era of leadership is being systematically dismantled by the DOJ.
- The Fentanyl Backlash: The cartel is currently facing massive pressure because of the fentanyl crisis. Even some cartel factions have reportedly tried to "ban" the drug to get the DEA off their backs.
- Legal Precedents: The conditions of El Chapo's confinement are often cited in human rights debates regarding solitary confinement. How his case evolves could change how the U.S. treats high-profile prisoners.
Basically, if you want to know where is El Chapo today, just look at the most isolated corner of Colorado. He is a 68-year-old man (give or take, his birth date is debated) who spends his days in a concrete box, far from the mountains of Sinaloa. The kingpin era is over, even if the cartel he built continues to evolve without him.
To stay truly informed, follow the Department of Justice's official press releases regarding "Los Chapitos" and the ongoing trials in the Eastern District of New York. The legal filings often reveal more about the cartel's current state than any tabloid report.