logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
50m 48s

El Chapo: Cocaine kingpin

Bbc World Service
About this episode

The story of Mexican drug lord Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, better known as El Chapo, the leader of one of the world’s most prolific, violent and powerful drug cartels.

BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng follow El Chapo from childhood in the Mexican mountain region of Sinaloa to the very top of the drug business, and into the New York prison cell where he now resides.

Simon and Zing reveal how El Chapo innovated with tunnels along the US-Mexican border, escaped prison twice, and used extreme violence to gain power. Then they are given the simple task of deciding if he's good, bad, or just another billionaire.

We’d love to hear your feedback. Email goodbadbillionaire@bbc.com or drop us a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176.

To find out more about the show and read our privacy notice, visit www.bbcworldservice.com/goodbadbillionaire

Up next
Oct 6
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Muscles, movies, money
How bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger went from Mr Universe to all-action cinematic superstar and billionaire investor.BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng take us back to Schwarzenegger’s youth in post-war Austria and a childhood marked by poverty. Bodybuild ... Show More
46m 39s
Sep 19
Coming soon: More tales of the mega-rich
Film stars, tech bros, shipping magnates and online retail giants... BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng introduce the latest batch of billionaires whose stories they will uncover in their new season, starting 6 October.Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast th ... Show More
1m 42s
Sep 8
Encore - Film Stories: George Lucas and Peter Jackson
George Lucas created Star Wars and Peter Jackson directed the Lord of the Rings films, two of the movie world’s most epic adventures. Ahead of a new season of Good Bad Billionaire, presented by Zing Tsjeng and BBC business editor Simon Jack, here’s another chance to hear how thes ... Show More
1h 4m
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2023
Episode 267: Mexican drug lord 'El Chapo', his legacy and the Sinaloa cartel
He is locked up in a Colorado jail with some of the world’s most notorious prisoners, but the legacy of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman lives on in a never ending cycle of violence and corruption in Mexico.Since his incarceration his Sinaloa Cartel has continued to flood the US with drug ... Show More
54m 8s
Jul 2020
“El Chapo” Pt. 1: Joaquín Guzmán
Before he became the most powerful drug cartel leader in the world, building tunnels to evade authorities and growing his power even from inside prison, Joaquín Guzmán Loera was a small-town marijuana farmer in Sinaloa, Mexico. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic ... Show More
40m 40s
Nov 2021
El Chapo Guzmán
Mexican cartels are among the most dangerous and destructive criminal organizations in the world. With their number of members numbering in the hundreds of thousands and their revenue reaching hundreds of billions per year, these drug trafficking syndicates operate from Mexico to ... Show More
26m 5s
Apr 2021
Kingpins: El Chapo
Today, we’re taking a look at a quote from Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. The once-leader of the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico, Guzmán used his crime syndicate to sell billions of dollars worth of drugs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 
6m 14s
Feb 2021
El Chapo Part 2: The Tunnel King
In the early 1980s, Chapo Guzmán is still in his mid-20s. But he’s already grabbed the attention of the Guadalajara Kingpin. Promoted to the Cartel's inner circle, he uses tunnels, ships and even submarines to transport contraband. Chapo assumes personal control of Sinaloa State ... Show More
41m 12s
May 2023
The sons of El Chapo go from Insta-fame to Most Wanted
With their father in prison, the sons of El Chapo have taken over the family business. The Justice Department calls the cartel run by Los Chapitos the “most violent and most prolific fentanyl trafficking operation in the world.” Plus, closing arguments for the rape and defamation ... Show More
11m 36s
Mar 2022
Lord of the Skies: The Man Who United Mexico's Cartels
We're joined by author Noah Hurowitz to tell the story of Amado Carrillo Fuentes, one of the most powerful narco-traffickers to every live, with an estimated fortune of 25 billion dollars. After having spent his youth learning the ways from the old guard of top-level drug lords, ... Show More
48m 40s
Oct 2023
Surviving El Chapo Returns for Season 2
Hey Scamanda listeners! We wanted to let you know about the return of Lionsgate Sound's Surviving El Chapo: The Twins Who Brought Down A Drug Lord.It follows the story of the Flores twins, who after becoming El Chapo's right hand men, turned themselves over to the US authorities ... Show More
58s
Oct 2023
The dark but luxurious life of El Chapo’s wife
Thousands of people - including politicians, students and journalists - are killed in drug cartel violence in Mexico every year.One of the biggest cartels is Sinaloa. Joaquín "El Chapo” Guzmán led the cartel until he was jailed in 2019. He’s currently serving a life sentence. His ... Show More
15 m