In El Chapo's home state, Mexicans bemoan his punishment far from home

SUMMARY

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman will spend the rest of his days in lock-up in the United States, after a judge on Wednesday sentenced Guzman to life in prison, plus 30 years. In Culiacan, the capital in Mexico's northwestern state of Sinaloa, locals lamented that Mexicans were deprived of the chance to see the notorious capo tried, convicted and punished on his native soil. At a Culiacan chapel dedicated to the folk saint of drug smugglers, Jesus Malverde, vendors sell figurines of a moustachioed Guzman wielding a rifle and grenades as well as framed photos of the drug lord, right alongside colourful rosaries and images of Jesus Christ.

By ReutersNov 4, 2019 6:21:25 PM IST (Updated)

A view of the "Saint Jesus Malverde" chapel in Culiacan, in Mexico's state of Sinaloa, Mexico. REUTERS/Jesus Bustamante

Votive candles with the images of Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman (C) and "Saint Jesus Malverde" are pictured at a stall outside the "Saint Jesus Malverde" chapel in Culiacan, in Mexico's state of Sinaloa. Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is never going back home to Sinaloa. The Mexican drug lord will instead spend the rest of his days in lock-up thousands of miles away in the United States after a judge on Wednesday sentenced Guzman to life in prison, plus 30 years. REUTERS/Jesus Bustamante

People are seen at the "Saint Jesus Malverde" chapel in Culiacan, in Mexico's state of Sinaloa. In Culiacan, the capital in Mexico's northwestern state of Sinaloa, locals lamented that Mexicans were deprived of the chance to see the notorious capo tried, convicted and punished on his native soil. REUTERS/Jesus Bustamante

After an 11-week trial, a US jury in February found Guzman guilty of trafficking tons of cocaine, heroin and marijuana and engaging in murder conspiracies as a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico's most treacherous drug trafficking groups. REUTERS/Jesus Bustamante

Many in Sinaloa treat Guzman as a Robin Hood figure who helped the poor mountain village where he grew up and neighbouring communities. REUTERS/Jesus Bustamante

A statue depicting Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is pictured at a stall outside the "Saint Jesus Malverde" chapel in Culiacan. The number 701 refers to the 2009 World's Billionaires ranking given by Forbes magazine to Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. REUTERS/Jesus Bustamante

Guzman was extradited in 2018 following two break-outs from Mexican jails - one purportedly in a laundry cart, the other through a mile-long tunnel. REUTERS/Jesus Bustamante