'El Chapo' in the company of monsters

Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán will be back in open air for Halloween, and quite probably in a lot of places at the same time because a disguise made on his image has become a hit in the Mexican costume stores.

"We sell the mask of 'El Chapo' and the costume, which includes the shirt ... with the old black and white stripes (... ) It's selling a lot," expressed Andrea Copado, from the "El Coco" company, one of many selling the disguise, which has exhausted its first run.

"El Chapo," leader of the Sinaloa cartel, escaped last July 11 from the maximum-security prison of El Altiplano, in the central State of Mexico, using a tunnel.

The mask, which is manufactured in Mexico, retails for about US$11 while the complete set goes for about US$26.28.

Made by Sponch Costumes in Jiutepec, Morelos, the mask does not skimp on details and presents "El Chapo" with black hair, a heavy mustache, thick eyebrows and a straight face.

Due to the heavy demand, the manufacturers and distributors of the mask are currently in China buying more materials, fabrics and costumes, as told to EFE.