El Chapo trial: Joaquín Guzman joked about arming infant daughter with AK47 in texts to wife, court hears

Trial of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzman is expected to last four months

'El Chapo' Guzman's legal team arrives at court

The trial of notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo“ Guzman continues in Brooklyn, New York, and is expected to last into early 2019.

This is the first time a major Mexican drug lord has been tried in a US court and pleaded not guilty. The trial has become increasingly tense in recent days, as Guzman’s attorney seeks to undermine testimonies from major drug traffickers.

Guzman, 61, faces a 17 count indictment that covers nearly three decades of alleged criminal activities. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Follow updates form the trial as they happened

Agencies contributed to this report

[9 January 2019 20:32 · Chris Stevenson]

Mr Rodriguez said he handled Guzman's requests to install spyware on about 50 "special phones" he wanted to track. The software allowed Guzman to monitor users' calls and texts, and even to turn on a phone's microphone and record at any time without the user's knowledge.

[9 January 2019 20:49 · Chris Stevenson]

Mr Rodriguez began cooperating with the FBI while still working for Guzman, allowing investigators to tap into the cartel's encrypted phone network. His testimony was accompanied by special security precautions, with sketch artists instructed not to draw his face.

[9 January 2019 21:18 · Chris Stevenson]

Mr Rodriguez said he personally installed spyware on about 50 phones. The technician said he heard from associates of Guzman that their boss treated the technology "like his toy," often using it to hear what people said about him immediately after he called them.

[9 January 2019 22:18 · Chris Stevenson]

We are ending our coverage for today, but Mr Rodriguez's testimony is expected to continue on Thursday.