'El Chapo' paid huge bribes to top Mexican cop, witness says

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Federal agents from DHS/ICE and DEA escort Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, center, from a plane to an SUV at Long Island MacArthur Airport, in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Jan. 19, 2017. (Federal law enforcement handout)

A government witness testifying at the U.S. trial of the Mexican drug lord known as "El Chapo" claims his cartel paid massive bribes to a top law enforcement official.

Miguel Angel Martinez told a New York City jury on Monday that Joaquin Guzman ordered $10 million bribes at least twice to the police commander starting in the late 1980s. He said in exchange the commander, Guillermo González Calderon, helped keep Guzman from getting caught.

Martinez testified that Guzman hired him in the late 1980s to work for his drug-smuggling operation. He said they became so close that Guzman became his son's godfather.

The defense said Guzman is being framed by shady cooperators.