International drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who was apprehended on Friday after escaping from a high-security prison six months ago, gave an exclusive interview to actor-director Sean Penn before his capture. Rolling Stone, which published the interview, said that Penn had "traveled in secret" through the Mexican jungle to meet with Chapo. The interviews were then conducted via phone and videotaping.

The New York Times reported that El Chapo admitted in the interview for the first time that he operated a drug empire. He said, “I supply more heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana than anybody else in the world. I have a fleet of submarines, airplanes, trucks and boats.” Earlier, he had maintained that he was merely a farmer.

Guzman explained how turning to drugs had been his only option to help provide for his family, adding that his disappearance would not make a difference to the business. He also described his dramatic escape from prison six months ago, which involved disappearing through a hole in his shower into a mile-long tunnel and finally escaping on a motorcycle modified to run in a low-oxygen environment.

After Rolling Stone published Penn's story, Mexican authorities said they knew about the actor's meeting with El Chapo, adding that it was a part of the investigation that helped lead to the drug lord's recapture.