Mexico Extradites Son of El Chapo to the United States to Face Drug Trafficking Charges
Mexico has extradited Ovidio Guzmán López, the son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, to the United States to face drug trafficking, money laundering, and other charges, according to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. This extradition is the latest step in the Justice Department’s efforts to dismantle the cartel’s operations.
Guzmán López, also known as “the Mouse,” was captured by Mexican security forces in January in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state. This arrest triggered a wave of violence that resulted in the deaths of 30 people, including 10 military personnel. The Mexican government had previously attempted to capture Guzmán López three years earlier but had to abort the operation due to the violent response from his cartel allies.
The extradition of Guzmán López is significant because it usually takes at least two years for someone of his high profile to be extradited. Mike Vigil, former head of international operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration, believes that the Mexican government facilitated the extradition due to pressure from conservative members of the U.S. Congress who had suggested military intervention if Mexico did not do more to stop the flow of drugs.
U.S. prosecutors had previously unsealed indictments against Guzmán López and his brothers, collectively known as the “Chapitos,” in April. The indictments detailed how the brothers took over the cartel’s operations after their father’s extradition and focused on producing synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl. The goal was to produce large quantities of fentanyl and sell it at the lowest price, as fentanyl is cheap to make and generates immense profits for the cartel.
While the extradition of Guzmán López is seen as a symbolic victory, experts believe it will have minimal impact on the Sinaloa cartel, which remains the largest producer of fentanyl and continues to smuggle drugs into the United States. Fentanyl has become a top priority in the bilateral security relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, but Mexican President Andrés Manuel López-Obrador has described his country as a transit point for fentanyl precursors coming from China, despite evidence of fentanyl production in Mexico.
The U.S. has seen a significant increase in overdose deaths linked to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, with an estimated 75,000 deaths attributed to these drugs last year. Fentanyl is often cut into other drugs without the buyers’ knowledge, making it even more dangerous. Mexico’s fentanyl seizures typically occur when the drug has already been pressed into pills and is on its way to the U.S. border.
The Sinaloa cartel’s stronghold in Culiacan plays a significant role in fentanyl production, as the cartel exerts near complete control over the region. The extradition of Guzmán López serves as a reminder of the ongoing cooperation between the American and Mexican governments in countering narcotics and other vital challenges.
Original Story at www.wyomingpublicmedia.org – 2023-09-16 13:32:00
Comments are closed.