"El Chapo" a story of Presidential protection

(Fotoarte Prensa Libre: Sergio Espada)

The Sinaloa Cartel led by Joaquin Guzman a.k.a. "El Chapo" flourished during the presidency of Vicente Fox (2000-2006) and Felipe Calderon (2006-2012) and lasted well into Enrique Peña's as well (2012-2018). He enjoyed total impunity during these years. Which brings several questions... Why wasn't he stopped? Why president Felipe Calderon, who was bringing down all the heads from the major cartels in the country did not touch "El Chapo" on a clear war against drug cartels? According to official investigations and reports, we now know that he had full control of the prison he was jailed in and that he escaped in 2001 from, via a monthly payroll that included Federal Police, Military and Navy officers as well as politicians. I guess he kept on buying his freedom to operate since he kept on building the cartel along with "Mayo Zambada" who happens to still be untouched as of today and is one of the oldest drug dealers in Mexico. This situation lasted for two presidential periods (12 years). During Enrique Peña's administration, he was captured twice, one in 2014 just to escape again the following year and in 2016 and in both cases it is pretty clear he must have had to bribe a lot of people including very high ranked officials. It seems he will never get out of it since he was extradited to the US and which trial is about to begin.
"El Chapo" lawyer said to the press recently that a huge amount of bribe money was paid to the Presidents mentioned above for impunity for the Sinaloa cartel which does not sound very crazy at all in my opinion. It is really strange that during the biggest war against cartels (Felipe Calderon administration) he remained as free as it gets. During these years "El Chapo" exterminated almost all the rest of the Mexican cartels with such an ease, which I also find very strange and during Felipe Calderon's he was never even bothered. Now the question is why did he get caught during Enrique Peña's mandate? Was it international pressure? Or Mexicans simply could not handle anymore the intensity of the war amongst cartels which generated the most violent period in Mexico's history? Rumor has it "El Chapo" financed Enrique Peña's candidacy for President.
It is also super odd that in none of his captures his fortune was never seized, he has been physically jailed but never financially which I guess that is why he was able to buy his freedom all the time. The truth is that during Calderon's and Fox's presidency he was very free to operate and also during the first three years of Peña's administration. I find it really hard to believe we saw many head cartels disappear through the hands of the government while "El Chapo" cartel was flourishing to be the biggest one ever according to the D.E.A. without the aid of the Mexican government and maybe the US.
You be the judge and if you get a chance watch "El Chapo" on Netflix which even though the claim is fiction I believe is very close to the truth.

Please comment below since I want to know the point of view from people outside of Mexico.