El Chapo's Cell Had Camera Blind-Spot for 'Privacy'

Mexican authorities have told us how Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman disappeared from his prison cell before traveling down a mile-long tunnel and emerging to freedom at a nearby home under construction. Now, we can see the moment for ourselves, via surveillance video. The footage from Saturday night shows a fully-clothed Guzman enter his shower and crouch behind a low "privacy" wall that created a blind-spot for the cell's camera, which watched Guzman 24 hours a day, NBC News reports. He then moves to his bed, changes his shoes, and returns to squat behind the wall, CNN reports. Six seconds later, at 8:52pm, Guzman vanishes down a tunnel hidden below.

"We can confirm that the camera has two blind spots in the cell to allow for the privacy of the inmate" when using the toilet and shower, Mexico's national security commissioner says. ABC News reports Guzman not only dodged his cell’s closed-circuit lens but also a second camera outside his cell’s entrance. The commissioner adds Guzman, an inmate in the prison's "special treatment" unit, wore a tracking bracelet, but it didn't have geolocation capabilities. ABC reports Guzman removed the bracelet before the escape. Additional footage released by the Mexican government shows the well-lit and ventilated tunnel as well as the adapted motorbike used to move dirt and tools during construction. (More Joaquin Guzman stories.)