US/Mexico Intel: Sinaloa Capo Azul is assumed to be alive

Chívis Martínez for Borderland Beat

Two weeks ago articles began appearing in Mexico claiming that both the US and Mexican intelligence agencies, reject the death reports of Sinaloa leader, Juan José Moreno Esparragoza aka "Azul".

One of the sons of Azul was recently arrested,  and he was quick to “confirm” the death of his father.

The story that was given by those close to the family, was that Azul died from heart failure that derived from complications sustained in an automobile accident.  His death was supposedly on June 8^th of this year.  The Sinaloa based newspaper, Ridoce, reported on the death in their June 8^th issue.  They reported that Azul was immediately  cremated.  

And therein lies the problem, there is absolutely no proof that the capo is dead.  

The only record that exists, reveals that the sole provable certainty, is that Azul did in fact visit the San Jose Royal Hospital of Zapopan Jalisco, but did not die there.  In fact no person died at the hospital on June 7^th, and no person died that entire weekend bearing the name, apx age, or physical characteristics of Azul.

Reforma newspaper, was able to access footage from security cameras of that weekend.  Still shots are found in this post, above and below, of a man that resembles Azul, but visited the emergency room department of the hospital at around 11PM on June 8^th, the day Riodoce published that he had died.

In the still shots, the man appears free of  distress, walking, speaking to medical personal in what appears to be triage, carrying a book, and at one point puts glasses on.

It may or may not be Azul, but what is certain that there is absolutely no evidence of his death, on any date, and as “Chayo”, the Caballeros Templarios leader before him did, he may have seized an opportunity to pronounce his death, hoping the search for him would cease.