‘We Love to Fly and it Shows’ – Airline or Drug Cartel?

According to Mexican newspaper, El Universal, Sinaloa drug cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán had a fleet of 599 airplanes seized between 2006 and 2015, besting Mexico’s own national airline, Aeroméxico. So what are these airlines really doing? Are all of the “punny” quips really masking something much darker?

‘…More Experience Than Our Name Suggests…’

Photo: biv.com

With 134 planes to their name, Aeroméxico didn’t even begin to compare to the veritable convoy of planes that Mexican law enforcement seized from the cartel during drug smuggling operations from 2006 to 2015, El Universal reported.

‘…Fly the Friendly Skies…’

Photo: voanoticias.com

No longer “…free to move about the Country…” Guzmán (who had previously escaped) has been transferred from maximum-security Antiplano prison to the Cefereso No. 9 prison outside of Ciudad Juarez, and as of the ruling on Monday, May 9, a federal judge in Mexico has left the possibility of his extradition to the United States open. Mexico’s Judicial Council has 20 days from that date to make the decision.

‘…Something Special in the Air…’

Photo: viralthread.com

Although an exact figure on the number of planes still remaining in ownership by the cartel has yet to be determined, El Universal reports that this number likely still exceeds that of Mexico’s national airline.