Ted Cruz says drug lord El Chapo should forfeit $14 billion to pay for Donald Trump's wall

Cash seized from notorious Mexican drug lords, such as El Chapo (pictured during his arrest in February 2014), could be used to cover the cost of Donald Trump's border wall. Photo/Getty Images

Cash seized from notorious Mexican drug lords, such as El Chapo, could be used to cover the cost of Donald Trump's border wall.

The radical new proposal was put forward Tuesday by Senator Ted Cruz as part of the Texas Republican's EL CHAPO bill, according to Daily Mail.

The bill's title, in addition to being the nickname of the infamous and recently extradited Joaquin Guzman, stands for Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets to Provide Order.

Cruz's proposal calls for the US government to seek $14 billion ($20.1 billion) from Guzman specifically, while also trying to get its hands on funds from other drug lords to cover the cost of building the wall and securing the border.

The drug lord is being held at a high-security federal jail in Manhattan, with US officials mindful of how he twice escaped from prison in Mexico, the second time via a mile-long tunnel dug to the shower in his cell.

During a hearing in February, Guzman's legal team complained about the strict conditions he is being held under.

His lawyers claimed 'El Chapo' is on 23-hour lockdown, unable to visit with his 27-year-old beauty queen wife or Mexican lawyer, and has even been denied water by his jailers on occasion.

Cruz released this image of a mock dollar bill showing Guzman's face on it, along with the caption: "El Chapo will pay for it". Photo/Twitter

The defense team also complained the conditions have hampered their ability to meet with their client and figure out how they are going to fight the charges against him.

US District Judge Brian Cogan dismissed the protestations at the time, saying: "there are grounds for extra security measures".

Guzman is due to appear in court on May 5.

Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are pictured together in September 2015. Cruz's proposal could help Trump with one of his signature promises. Photo/Getty Images

Donald Trump promised repeatedly during the campaign Mexico would pay for his border wall, which an internal Homeland Security review found in February could cost almost $22 billion ($31.6 billion).

Trump, who claimed it would cost $12 billion ($17.2 billion), has seemingly backed away from the promise since taking office, and this week tweeted Mexico would pay "in some form" at a later date.