Mexico City, July 31 (teleSUR-RHC)-- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced on Thursday that police from the Americas to Europe and Australia have joined forces in a "marathon" to hunt the Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

DEA Deputy Administrator Jack Riley said he is "optimistic" that the head of the Sinaloa Cartel will be recaptured, but acknowledged that it is not going to be an easy task. Almost three weeks have passed since he managed to escape for the second time to escape from a maximum security prison. Officials in Mexico said the DEA provided crucial intelligence assistance to catch Guzman in February 2014, 13 years after his first escape, which according to analysts was a product of the bribes he paid to top officials.

However, for the latest escape, officials say El Chapo broke out by stepping into an opening in his cell’s shower and fled through an elaborate man-made tunnel. However, the information provided by the government has been rejected by many, who accuse authorities of once again being complicit in his escape.

According to journalist Anabel Hernandez, this version of events is unlikely, as the federal government and the government of Enrique Peña Nieto were well aware that El Chapo had great influence over the Altiplano maximum security prison.

Earlier this month the U.S. agency released a report saying its agents knew about the "escape plans" plotted by the top Mexican drug lord, the document revealed that immediately after Guzman was arrested, his family and "drug-world associates" began planning operations to free the drug kingpin.