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Conflicts

Mexico extradites drug lord El Chapo to US

January 20, 2017

The former leader of the Sinaloa cartel escaped from a maximum security prison early last year and was recaptured in a massive police operation. Mexican Foreign Ministry officials have now confirmed his extradition.

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Mexiko | Joaquin El Chapo Guzman
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Prensa Internacional via ZUMA Wire

'El Chapo' extradited to the United States

Mexico's government has turned Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin "el Chapo" Guzman over to US authorities, the Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday. Guzman will face trafficking and other charges related to illegal drugs.
The convicted Sinaloa cartel boss most recently sat in a prison near the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez. Authorities recaptured him last year after he made a second brazen jailbreak, and he had fought extradition since then.

Guzman will face the US justice system under incoming President Donald Trump. The former reality show host had feuded with Chapo's son on Twitter during the early days of his presidential campaign via the kingpin's official Twitter account.

The drug lord expressed his disgust with Trump's shock victory the day after November's election, writing on Twitter that "the most palpable candidate of hate, confrontation, racism, persecution, misogyny" had won. "What a sad situation for all," Guzman added.

mkg/kl (EFE, Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP)