Mexican Federal Judge ruled that drug lord 'El Chapo' Guzman is cleared to extradite to US. The Federal Court of Mexico released the statement on Monday. Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman was recaptured last January by Mexican Marine after escape from maximum security prison in July 2015.
Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman is known as the leader for Sinaloa Cartel, a criminal organization in Mexico. The 61-year old escaped from maximum security prison twice and recaptured on January 8, 2015 in a house at the coastal city of Los Mochis after a month surveilllance. He was wanted by both Mexican and US authorites for his crime and US Department of Justice requested extradition for the popular drug lord to the United States.
On Monday, Mexican Federal Court announced in a news release that Mexican federal judge has ruled that 'El Chapo' Guzman can be extradited to United States. A senior Mexican law enforcement source told CNN that Guzman was transferred last week from the maximum-security Altiplano lockup in central Mexico to a prison in Ciudad Juarez, near the border with Texas.
Last month, lawyer for 'El Chapo' Guzman said that his client wanted to be extradited to US as soon as possible. The lawyer said that his client cannot stand to be locked up in Altiplano, citing that conditions in the prison were unbearable and making him seriously ill.
New York Times reported that Guzmán's lawyers were notified of the judge's decision on Friday night, while 'El Chapo' Guzman was told on Sunday. The location will ease the extradition to United States due to the close proximity with the border.
"There is nothing, legally speaking that could impede the extradition, from the judicial system point of view," said spokesman for the judiciary in Mexico who could not be identified.
Although the ruling does not immediately result in an extradition, it essentially provides the baseline for Ministry of Foreign Relations in Mexico to grant the final approval for extradition within the next 30 days.
"The ball is now in the Foreign Ministry's court, and they have a month to execute the process or not," said the judiciary a spokesman. "They have been notified and received the file."
While one of Guzman's lawyer Juan Pablo Badillo, told Reuters that his client's legal situation was still being processed and that to extradite him now would be a violation of his human rights. He listed nine pending appeals against Guzman's extradition. Following the extradition, his client will face charges of money laundering, drug trafficking, kidnapping and murder in many cities including Chicago, Miami and New York.
As Federal judge in Mexico ruled that drug lord 'El Chapo' Guzman can be extradited to US, the next step is to obtain approval from Ministry of Foreign Relations. Afterward, the drug lord will have his trial in the United States.
