The secret tunnels of the scandalous Mexican drug lord

In February, Mexico's most wanted drug lord, Joaquín "Shorty" Guzmán, the underworld legend who in 2009 made the Forbes list of the world's billionaires, was finally arrested. Guzmán was on the United States and Mexico's most wanted list and led the Sinaloa Cartel.

The authorities tracked down Guzmán for a long time. In the end, it became clear that Guzman was hiding somewhere near the city of Culiacan, the capital of the state of Sinaloa. In mid-February 2014, investigators identified seven houses where the drug cartel leader and his associates were likely hiding. All of them were arranged according to the same principle: the entrances were protected by reinforced doors, and underground tunnels led from the bathrooms to the city sewer.

Photographer Daniel Becherrill looked into Shorty's secret tunnels, which he used more than once to escape and transport drugs.

(Total 13 photos)

1. A Mexican Marine lifts a bathtub, under which is the entrance to the tunnel and the exit to the sewer. The bath is located in one of the houses of Joaquin "Shorty" Guzmán in Culiacan. Guzman was a nobody, but he became one of the most powerful drug lords in history. Last Saturday, he was caught after raiding the beach resort of Mazatlán, 200 kilometers southeast of Culiacan. A few days earlier, Guzmán managed to escape from the military through these tunnels and sewers. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

2. The exit from the sewer, which leads straight under one of Guzman's houses. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

3. A journalist at a steel door that leads from the city's sewer system to a tunnel under one of Guzman's houses. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

4. Journalists with flashlights go through the sewer pipe to the tunnel under Guzman's house. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

5. The exit from this staircase is located directly under the same bathroom from the first picture. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

6. The bottom of the same bath. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

7. Secret tunnel under one of the houses of Joaquin Guzman, nicknamed "Chapo" (Shorty). (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

8. Tunnel leading from Guzman's house to the city sewer. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

9. Guzman's secret "personal" tunnel was separated from the city sewer by a steel door. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

10. Part of the sewer system leading to Guzman's house. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

11. Mexican military in the sewers. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

12. The Mexican military carefully checked the secret tunnels leading out of Guzmán's house after the drug lord was caught. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)

13. Mexican Marine in the bedroom of one of the houses of Joaquin Guzman. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)