El Chapo captured after secret meeting with Sean Penn to discuss making a film of his life

Hollywood actor Sean Penn unwittingly led Mexican marines to the world’s most wanted drug lord El Chapo after they secretly met to discuss making a film about his life. The Oscar winning star is now under investigation by authorities after remaining quiet about the interview, saying he refused to speak out over fear of reprisals. Joaquin Guzman, nicknamed El Chapo, is the head of the world’s most ruthless drug cartel which has killed more than 65,000 people.

The extraordinary seven-hour meeting to discuss a possible biopic took place at the billionaire boss’s secret jungle hideout in October deep in the Sinaloa mountains.

Guzman told Penn “I don’t want to be portrayed as a nun,” as they talked over tacos and tequila.

However unbeknown the Guzman, his henchmen and the 55-year-old Dead Man Walking actor, authorities had learnt of the meeting allowing them to pinpoint the cartel’s secret lair.

Details of Penn’s bizarre interview have now emerged following Guzman’s capture on Friday during a daring raid at 4am in Los Mochis on Mexico’s north west coast.

Mexico’s attorney general said El Chapo’s hideout had been under surveillance for a month.

When the raid was launched, gunfire broke out, leaving five suspects dead and six others arrested . 

During the shootout, Guzman and his right hand man El Cholo escaped through a manhole into a maze of sewer tunnels which the Mirror later found. Soldiers chased him underground, but he made it to the surface, where he stole a car. 

Mexican officials said the double Oscar-winning actor’s meeting with El Chapo meant vital information was discovered that led to his capture.

Penn’s meeting was set up with the permission of the Sinaloa cartel by Mexican soap opera actress Kate del Castillo, a huge supporter of Guzman, who stars in ‘Le Reina del Sur’.

The drama is about a young woman from Mexico who becomes the most powerful drug trafficker in southern Spain.