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Cartel Wives Reveal What It Was Like To Be In El Chapo's Inner Circle

Cartel Wives Reveal What It Was Like To Be In El Chapo's Inner Circle

“Did we live a good life? Yes, of course, we did."

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

He was the most notorious and feared narco-terrorist since Pablo Escobar, but Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman was finally brought to justice when two of his distributors gave up information that led law enforcement to him.

Margarito and Pedro Flores, twin brothers from Chicago, Illinois, worked closely with El Chapo for many years but are now on witness protection.

Now, in a new book entitled 'Cartel Wives', the brothers' spouses go on record for the first time, to give an insight into what life was like in the inner circle of one of the world's most dangerous and profitable drug rings.

In a short promotional video for Business Insider, the wives talk about the lavish lives they lived and where the big boss stored is riches.

Credit: PA

"So, during 2005 to 2008 our husbands trafficked $2 billion to Mexico. And we would see these houses full of money. You know, they had hydraulic walls that would just come out like 007 with millions of dollars," one of the anonymous women says in the video.

"We would have a room full of money. $1-$2 million sitting in the room, you know, for us to grab at our expense and that was usual.

"They had workers that worked there, you know, eight-hour shifts, three shifts per day just counting money and they would count maybe a million dollars in a couple hours and run it through the machines. And we're talking, you know, fives and tens and ones, we're talking street money.

"Now, did we benefit from it? Did we live a good life? Yes, of course, we did. We were spoiled, we ate well, we travelled, we would sometimes want to stay on vacation for a month on the beach and just live life to its fullest but at the end of the day we wanted to denounce that life and we knew what mattered to us was love and family and simplicity."

The Flores brothers acted as distributors to El Chapo and his cartel, this role made them the perfect source of information for the police when they were brought down.

Credit: PA

The brothers were connected to everyone from the highest-ranking kingpins, to the lowly couriers who ferried cash and drugs back and forth.

Because of information provided by them, in exchange for reduced sentences and witness protection for them and their families, around 50 people were charged and around 40 convicted.

The Flores brothers brought El Chapo to his knees, but they'll now have to live the rest of their lives out in fear.

When they were sentenced, Chief US District Judge Ruben Castillo told them: "Even though I am not going to sentence you to life, you are leaving here with a life sentence."

"Each time you start your car (when you are out of prison), you are going to be wondering, is it going to start, or will it explode."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: US News, Mexico, el chapo