economy with drug money. a common feeling, leave el chapo and his cartel alone and he's legal us alone. see how they're idolized. storefronts bear the name of the cartel leader and it's not uncommon see el chapo printed on the tops of license plate frameses. gary tuchman, cnn, mexico. full coverage of this story with nick parker in mexico city and anna pa rerz in washington. evan to you first. what took so long? why has this taken so long? >> reporter: well, you know, he's been almost a mythical figure down there in mexico. many times the mexican authorities along with the dea's assistant thought they had tracked him down and found him. in 2012, they thought they came cloeshgs but every time he seemed to get away and there would be almost like, where's waldo-type sightings. he's show up at weddings or restaurants and people would tell these stories. he became the subject of