The Great Escape: Mexican Drug Lord’s Rail-Mounted Motorcycle

Steve McQueen‘s got nothing on El Chapo, the man the U.S. government calls the most power drug trafficker in the world. Last weekend, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, successfully escaped from a Mexican prison for the second time in his life.

Guzman first escaped way back in 2001 by hiding in a laundry basket. This time, his escape seems much more sophisticated, involving a mile-long tunnel constructed 30-feet underground with the help of a motorcycle specially-modified to run on rails.

While it may be sensational if Guzman actually rode the motorcycle to escape (like McQueen’s character attempts to do in the film “The Great Escape“) the bike was more likely used to move tools and displaced dirt during the tunnel’s construction. The escape route itself is pretty impressive, complete with supports and ventilation. Authorities estimate about 3,250 tonnes of earth was moved to create the tunnel.

The motorcycle is pretty barebones, with most components including the seat and front end removed. A plastic jug sits in place of the fuel tank, supplying gas to the air-cooled Single. To guide it through the narrow tunnel, the motorcycle was mounted on a pair of rails.

Guzman remains at large. The Mexican government is offering a $3.8 million reward for information leading to his capture, while the U.S. government has upped the ante with a $5 million reward.