Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman slipped into the US twice to visit relatives while he was a fugitive, one of his daughters has said.
The world's most wanted man entered California after his infamous escape from a maximum security jail in Mexico, according to Rosa Isela Guzman Ortiz.
Ms Ortiz, who lives in California, told the Guardian newspaper about the audacious visits, amid claims her father is being "tortured" after his recapture.
She said the 58-year-old fugitive entered the US state last year, shortly after his October meeting with US actor Sean Penn.
She told the Guardian that her father crossed the border to visit relatives and see her five-bedroom house, which he bought for her and her children.
"My dad deposited the money in a bank account with a lawyer and a while after he came to see the house, his house," she told the paper.
"He came twice," said Ms Ortiz, who has US citizenship and runs small businesses in California.
The 39-year-old did not say how her father managed to enter the US.
"I asked him the same, believe me," she said.
However, Guzman's Sinaloa drug cartel has used secret tunnels to ship massive amounts of narcotics to the US in the past.
Jackie Wasiluk, a spokeswoman for US Border Protection, told AFP that the agency "has no information that substantiates the claims in news reports."
Ms Ortiz said her father bought protection at the highest official level in Mexico, sending representatives to meet with senior politicians.
"All I know is that my dad told his lawyer to deliver some cheques to (a politician's) campaign, and asked that he respect him," she said.
She added that the family was considering releasing copies of the cheques, as well as names of officials and politicians who accepted his support.
Guzman has escaped twice from maximum-security prisons.
The first time was in 2001 and he was not recaptured until February 2014. His second escape took place in July last year, using a one-mile tunnel.
Guzman's daughter claimed his second escape had the blessing of senior officials, whom she did not name.
"My dad's escape was an agreement," she said.
The warden of the Altiplano prison near Mexico City is among more than 30 people detained over the escape.
Guzman was sent back to Altiplano following his 8 January recapture.
Yesterday, family members and lawyers protested outside the prison, claiming authorities were depriving him of sleep as a form of torture.
The small group included Guzman's sister Bernarda, who said her brother was being punished for escaping.
"They are angry because he got out, but anybody, even an irrational animal, would seek their freedom. He didn't hurt anybody," Bernarda said.
Prison authorities deny any inhumane treatment of Guzman, and said he was in good health.
One of Guzman's lawyers, Juan Pablo Badillo, said his client had complained about the conditions.
"'They are turning me into a zombie,' Chapo said, 'because they don't let me sleep,'" Mr Badillo reported.
The lawyer said Guzman had also claimed prison authorities tried to prescribe him Diazepam, a drug used to help with insomnia.
Another Guzman lawyer said his client hated the prison so much he was seeking fast extradition to the US, where he is wanted on trafficking charges.
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