Top 10 Things Facing El Chapo Got Factually Right and Wrong

#10: Tension Over Credit

Right

The film culminates in the Mexican Naval Forces arriving to apprehend the notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and his associate, Cholo Iván. Before the criminals are taken into custody, the Navy and the Mexican Federal Police clash over who deserves credit. The two sides even pull guns on one another, ultimately agreeing to take Guzmán in together. While the standoff admittedly comes off as dramatized, the federal police reportedly weren’t eager to let another group take control. According to Reuters, Nicolas Gonzalez, a senior federal police officer, “was unwilling to hand his prized charge to the navy.” Despite the apparent rivalry, the efforts of all those involved put Guzmán back behind bars after almost six months on the run.

#9: El Chapo’s Time on the Run

Wrong

“Facing El Chapo” centers on Operation Black Swan, which led to the Sinaloa Cartel boss’ apprehension. The film doesn’t provide much information about what happened between Guzmán’s prison escape in July 2015 and capture in January 2016, however. Most notably, the film omits Guzmán’s secret meeting with actress Kate del Castillo and actor Sean Penn. Del Castillo had been in contact with Guzmán, wanting to tell his story. Penn tagged along, interviewing Guzmán for Rolling Stone magazine. This meeting nearly led to Guzmán’s arrest at a ranch, although he managed to flee. There are conflicting accounts on whether Penn and del Castillo brought the authorities one step closer to El Chapo’s capture three months later. Either way, it’s a significant detail the film leaves out.

#8: The Taco Tipoff

Right

Whether or not Sean Penn’s actions factored into Guzmán’s eventual arrest, there was another unlikely component that contributed to the drug lord’s downfall: tacos. Before the raid on Guzmán’s hideout commences in the movie, two Marines take note of a big taco order delivered to the house. The authorities did indeed trace Guzmán to a residence in Los Mochis. After surveilling the house for almost a month, they made their move on January 8, 2016. They were prompted to take action when a man driving a suspicious white truck arrived with an unusually large number of tacos. The ensuing raid left five cartel members dead, although Guzmán managed to slip through the hands of justice again - albeit not for much longer.

#7: Help From an Undercover Agent

Wrong

Waiting for backup, Officer Héctor Rosales keeps an eye on Cholo Iván in the back of the police vehicle parked outside a motel. All the while, a mysterious man staying at the motel with a sex worker watches. Eventually, the stranger intervenes, pointing a gun at Rosales. At first, Cholo Iván believes that someone has come to his aid. As it turns out, this isn’t a dirty cop or cartel worker as the film led us to suspect. Rosales recognizes the armed man to be Barraza, an undercover officer who comes to help with the operation. There’s no real-world account of an undercover cop being at the right place at the right time, making Barraza one of several fictional characters.

#6: El Chapo Tried to Bribe Officers

Right

After Officers Arturo Carmona and Héctor Rosales take Guzmán into their custody, he guarantees them millions of dollars and protection in exchange for his freedom. Otherwise, he assures the officers this won’t end well for them. Carmona and Rosales repeatedly reject him, however. Although there isn’t a complete transcript of the exchange between the arresting officers and Guzmán, the drug kingpin did attempt to bribe them, with his offer supposedly going as high as $50 million. “Companies, houses, and businesses” were also on the table if the officers complied. When the officers turned him down, Guzmán reportedly replied, “You are all going to die.” As dangerous as Guzmán was, his threats proved to be as empty as his promises of wealth.

#5: El Chapo Was Caught at a Traffic Stop

Right

Upon giving the Marines the slip, El Chapo and Cholo Iván steal a car at gunpoint. It isn’t long until Carmona and Rosales spot the stolen vehicle. The officers are surprised and horrified to find a cartel leader inside. This is mostly how the beginning of Guzmán’s capture played out, although a few details are tweaked. Namely, Guzmán and his associate reportedly drove multiple cars, starting with a white Volkswagen Jetta and then jacking a red Ford Focus. The police intercepted the latter. While the vehicle had been reported stolen, the arresting officers had no idea who exactly they were pulling over. What seemed like a routine traffic stop became part of a historic manhunt for one of Mexico’s most infamous criminals.

#4: Taking an Officer’s Family Hostage

Wrong

Despite claiming that other officers are on his payroll, Guzmán finds that Carmona can’t be bought. Guzmán sees that Carmona values his family above all else, though, giving him leverage. Armed men arrive at Carmona’s home, threatening his pregnant wife and two daughters. Listening to his family cry over the phone, Carmona is put in an impossible situation. When Carmona thinks the worst has happened, he attempts to execute Guzmán right then and there. Thankfully, the Army shows up just in time to save Carmona’s family. While this raises the stakes during the climax, no such hostage situation took place. Although there were reports that 40 assassins had been tipped off about Guzmán’s capture, this didn’t lead to any officer’s family being targeted.

#3: El Chapo’s Tunnel Escape

Right

Guzmán gained a reputation as something of a Houdini, successfully escaping from prison in 2001 and again in 2015. While he would be recaptured in 2016, Guzmán pulled off another disappearing act shortly beforehand. Having tracked him down to the Los Mochis home, Guzmán was seemingly backed into a corner. Amid the shootout between the Marines and cartel members, though, Guzmán managed to get away yet again. As depicted in “Facing El Chapo,” Guzmán and Cholo Iván snuck through a series of tunnels, emerging out of the sewer. It appeared that Guzmán had bested the authorities once more. Yet, it was only a matter of time until the criminals were caught speeding, marking the beginning of the end for them.

#2: Waiting at a Sex Motel

Right

Needing a safe place to lay low, Carmona suggests that they head over to Motel del Puerto. Rosales is familiar with the location, as he often meets women there for intercourse. The officers actually took the criminals to the Doux motel, keeping Guzmán in room 51. While the name is changed, the motel they hid out at does indeed have a reputation for being a sex hotspot. According to the Guardian, the motel provides condoms, lubricants, and even a laminated menu of sex toys. If we’re going to be specific, though, the Guardian says that 300 pesos will get you six hours. The motel clerk in the film says it’s 350 pesos for three hours. In any case, people don’t stay long for a reason.

#1: Arturo Carmona & Héctor Rosales

Wrong

The film may be called “Facing El Chapo,” but it’s more about the officers who brought him to justice. Carmona is portrayed as a family man who goes by the book. Rosales seems more inclined to get his hands dirty, but will ultimately do the right thing. In reality, little is actually known about the officers responsible for Guzmán’s capture. As such, their dynamics, backstories, and even their names are fictionalized here. Reports also vary concerning how many officers were involved in the roadside arrest, ranging from two to four. Officer Nicolas Gonzalez, whom we mentioned before, was reportedly sent to the Mexican embassy in Washington, DC, for his safety. Outside of Gonzalez, the identities of the officers involved remain largely classified.

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