In interviews people ask me, “Where do you get your story ideas?” All of my tales take place on or around the Mexican Border.  Sometimes the action takes place deep in Mexico. Its’s what fascinates me. So when something like Sean Penn’s interview with El Chapo, the Mexican Drug Lord makes the news it’s a no brainer. Because that’s the heart of a story.

Joaquin Guzman, known as El Chapo, wants to move Hollywood to Sinaloa and do a film based on his life. Sean Penn with the help of Kate del Castillo snuck into Mexico to meet the Drug Lord. Rumors imply Penn made elaborate plans to slip across the border in the trunk of a friend’s car. He was unaware his trip was being monitored by a suspicious DEA.

Penn and del Castillo are now being investigated by Mexican authorities. She is accused of brokering the meeting with the Drug Lord. El Chapo said he didn’t know who Sean Penn was.

Penn says he didn’t bring El Chapo down. He was miles away when that happened. But he probably looks over his shoulder a lot. Guzman was captured on January the eighth of this year. Penn and Guzman met in October of last year when Guzman was still a fugitive from Mexican justice. El Chapo was described as confident and dressed in a silk shirt and pressed black jeans. Well groomed and looking to be in good health, he was the most wanted man in Mexico.

The Sinaloa Cartel is famous for creating elaborate tunnels for drug trafficking. Guzman’s escape passage from Altiplano Prison had a motorcycle on rails that was used to transport tools.

Guzman has been ranked as one of the richest men in the world. The cartel’s estimated income has been three billion dollars a year.

My name is Wally Runnels and I write Border Pulp.