El Chapo

Historical eventJanuary 82016

El Chapo

Joaquín Guzmán, widely regarded as the world's most powerful drug trafficker, is recaptured following his escape from a maximum security prison in Mexico.

10th anniversary in 2026

In context

When
Friday, January 8 201610 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
21st century · 2010s
Anniversary
10th in 2026
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 2016.

What happened

Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, commonly known as "El Chapo", is a Mexican former drug lord and the former top leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. Guzmán is believed to be responsible for the deaths of over 34,000 people, and was considered to be the most powerful drug trafficker in the world until he was extradited to the United States and sentenced to life in prison.

January 8 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 2004Queen Mary 2
  2. 2005USS San Francisco (SSN-711)
  3. 20092009 Cinchona earthquake
  4. 2010Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda
  5. 2011Jared Lee Loughner
  6. 2011Gabby Giffords
  7. 2016West Air Sweden Flight 294
  8. 2016El Chapo
  9. 2020Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752
  10. 2021La Vega raid
  11. 2023Jair Bolsonaro

Also in 2016

  • May 1111 May 2016 Baghdad bombingsOne hundred and ten people are killed in an ISIL bombing in Baghdad.
  • September 9North KoreaThe government of North Korea conducts its fifth and reportedly biggest nuclear test. World leaders condemn the act, with South Korea cal…
  • September 172016 New York and New Jersey bombingsTwo bombs explode in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and Manhattan. Thirty-one people are injured in the Manhattan bombing.
  • September 182016 Uri attackThe 2016 Uri attack in Jammu and Kashmir, India by terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed results in the deaths of nineteen Indian Army soldier…
  • July 13Prime Minister of the United KingdomPrime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron resigns, and is succeeded by Theresa May.
  • January 3Nimr al-NimrIn response to the execution of Nimr al-Nimr, Iran ends its diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.
  • September 3ChinaThe U.S. and China, together responsible for 40% of the world's carbon emissions, both formally ratify the Paris global climate agreement.
  • July 5Juno (spacecraft)The Juno space probe arrives at Jupiter and begins a 20-month survey of the planet.

Everything we record for 2016 →

Sources

Cite this page

“El Chapo”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/el-chapo-2016-january-8, accessed October 27, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did El Chapo happen?

January 8 2016 — 10 years ago, on a Friday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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