Mexico moves closer to U.S extradition of kingpin 'Chapo' Guzman

Record ID: 102393

  • Title: Mexico moves closer to U.S extradition of kingpin 'Chapo' Guzman
  • Date: 23rd May 2016
  • Summary: CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (FILE) (REUTERS) SIGN NEAR PRISON HOUSING GUZMAN IDENTIFYING "RESTRICTED AREA" SOLDIERS ON DUTY NEAR PRISON EXTERIOR OF PRISON ARMY AND POLICE VEHICLES ON PATROL NEAR PRISON EXTERIOR OF PRISON
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2016 00:22
  • Keywords: Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman Sinaloa Cartel drugs Mexico extradition United States
  • Location: MEXICO CITY, CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO
  • City: MEXICO CITY, CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA0024J16HQB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Mexico's Attorney General Arely Gomez told media on Monday (May 23) that druglord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has less than one month to stop a request for his extradition to the United States.
    Last week Mexico approved the extradition of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States after receiving guarantees he would not face the death penalty.
    Mexico's foreign ministry said he would face charges including drug trafficking, money laundering and murder in U.S. federal courts in California and Texas. The ministry said it was given "sufficient guarantees" by the U.S. government that Guzman would not be executed. It was not immediately clear where Guzman would be sent in the United States.
    But Guzman's lawyers have responding vowing to exhaust legal avenues available to the kingpin to stave off his extradition.
    Gomez briefed media on the status of Guzman's extradition request.
    "There have been two favourable opinions from the judges from the Third and Fourth (legal area) of the penal processes. They are the judges that had the requests for extradition from the United States. These favourable opinions were sent to the Foreign Ministry and the Foreign Ministry has already issued a judgment on each of these two opinions. Now where are we at the moment? What happens next is that Joaquin Guzman Loera's defence has 30 days to submit a protection application. When the protection is in place the Attorney General of the Republic through the Public Ministries will pursue this process," he said.
    Guzman, head of the Sinaloa drug cartel, was the world's most wanted drug kingpin until his capture in January, six months after he broke out of a high-security penitentiary in central Mexico through a mile-long tunnel burrowed right up into his cell.
    After his recapture, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto reported he had taken steps to ensure the kingpin would be extradited as soon as possible.
    With Chapo back behind bars, his more discreet partner, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, who jointly heads the powerful Sinaloa cartel, is the last major Mexican capo standing.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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