Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s son, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, has been extradited from Mexico to the United States, according to a statement from the US Department of Justice. The extradition was the result of a joint effort between US and Mexican law enforcement agencies to combat the Sinaloa Cartel, of which Guzman is considered a leader.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland commended the extradition as a significant step in the US government’s ongoing efforts to dismantle the operations of the cartel. Guzman was flown to Chicago, where he arrived on Friday afternoon. An initial court appearance has yet to be scheduled, but the US Attorney’s office anticipates it will take place on Monday.
Guzman’s arrest earlier this year in Culiacán, Mexico, resulted in a wave of violence as cartel members clashed with law enforcement. The operation left 29 people dead, but no civilian casualties were reported. Guzman had previously been arrested in 2019 but was released to avoid bloodshed. He went into hiding until his capture in 2023.
The extradition of Ovidio Guzman follows the recent release of his stepmother, Emma Coronel Aispuro, from a US prison. Aispuro had served nearly two years for drug trafficking and money laundering charges. The state of Sinaloa, where Culiacán is located, is known for being the home of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel.
According to the US State Department, Guzman and his brother, Joaquín Guzman-Lopez, inherited a significant amount of the cartel’s narcotics proceeds following the death of another brother, Edgar Guzman-Lopez. They allegedly invested the money into the purchase of marijuana and cocaine, as well as the smuggling of ephedrine for methamphetamine production. The brothers are also believed to oversee multiple methamphetamine labs in Sinaloa.
In a statement, Attorney General Garland expressed gratitude to the law enforcement officials involved in the fight against the cartels, acknowledging the courage and sacrifice of those who have given their lives in pursuit of justice. He also emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to holding accountable those responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic that has devastated communities across the country.
El Chapo, Ovidio Guzman’s father, famously escaped from prison in 2015 through a mile-long tunnel. He was later captured and convicted in the US on multiple charges, including drug trafficking and firearms offenses. El Chapo is currently serving a life sentence plus 30 years and has been ordered to forfeit $12.6 billion.
The extradition of Ovidio Guzman to the United States marks another significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat drug cartels and hold their leaders accountable for their crimes. The cooperation between US and Mexican law enforcement agencies reflects a commitment to addressing the drug trade that has had a devastating impact on communities on both sides of the border.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-09-16 03:14:00
Comments are closed.