You have probably heard of El Chapo; the Mexican drug lord and former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel widely considered to have been the most powerful drug trafficker in the world.
Joaquín Guzmán is known globally by the notorious nickname, which loosely translates to mean ‘Shorty’, thanks to his 5 foot 6 frame.
In case you missed it, the 61-year-old crime boss has recently been convicted in a US court of 10 counts of running a continuing criminal enterprise, drug trafficking, conspiracy and using firearms.
But, a new criminal with an equally apt nickname has been revealed to be forcibly working in Pennsylvania for another drug pusher.
Luckily he’s far less evil than El Chapo himself, even if his name is inspired by the cartel boss.
Meet El Chompo, the little alligator who was found by police in a Pennsylvania drug home guarding a stash of heroin, suspected fentanyl, crack cocaine and marijuana as well as around $5,000 in cash.
Authorities named the reptile after the infamous drug kingpin – in honour of his conviction – before taking it to the Brandywine Zoo for quarantine, reports NBC.
The three Pennsylvania men charged with drug trafficking and related offenses kept the poor little alligator to protect their merchandise, according to Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.
The animal was kept at the Coatesville home but found and rescued on February 8.
He’s a three-foot-long American alligator – so not too much difference in stature between the reptile and El Chapo himself.
It is assumed the alligator will get a new name – and put under witness protection? – when he is settled into his new home, as the nickname ‘El Chompo’ was only given to celebrate El Chapo’s conviction.
As well as his drug-pushing crimes, the trial exposed more horrific revelations about his life. For example, court papers released on Friday accuse him of drugging and raping girls as young as 13.
El Chompo, an innocent animal, deserves a better name mate than this notorious criminal. Justice for El Chompo.
If you have a story you want to tell, share it with UNILAD via stories@unilad.co.uk.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.