'El Chapo' may have injured leg evading his capture in Mexico

FILE - This Feb. 22, 2014 file photo shows Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the head of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, being escorted to a helicopter in Mexico City following his capture overnight in the beach resort town of Mazatlan. (AP)

The pursuit of escaped drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman in recent weeks moved into the mountains of northwestern Mexico and officials think he injured a leg and his face in evading capture, the government said late Friday.

In a statement, Mexico's security Cabinet provided no details on when or exactly where the operation took place. It said efforts to recapture Guzman have been continuing since his daring July 11 escape from his cell through a tunnel dug under the maximum security prison where he was being held not far from Mexico City.

The government cited information-sharing with international agencies for recently leading its hunt for Guzman to northwestern Mexico.

Guzman evaded capture for years in the rugged mountains of Sinaloa state. He previously escaped from another maximum security prison in 2001.