Is the world's most-wanted drug trafficker about to be extradited to the United States to face charges?
- Drug cartel kingpin can be extradited – judge
- Moved to prison near US border
- “A violation of human rights” – lawyer
What is happening?
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A Mexican judge has ruled that drug lord Joaquin Guzman can be extradited to face charges in the United States.
Video: Mexican drug kingpin #Guzman transferred to prison near U.S. borderhttps://t.co/5123kbUWpX
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) May 8, 2016
Guzman, who is known as “El Chapo”, was transferred to a prison on Ciudad Juarez on the country’s northern border with the United States.
Does this mean Guzman is about to be extradited?
Not necessarily.
Senior Mexican official said his extradition was in motion and would happen by mid-year.
However, government sources say nothing is likely to happen for weeks.
The head of Mexico’s federal prisons service has denied Guzman’s transfer is a preamble to extradition.
Prisoners awaiting extradition are routinely sent to Hermosillo jail in north-western Mexico and not Ciudad Juarez, where Guzman has
been taken.
Who is El Chapo?
#UPDATE Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman transferred to a prison in Ciudad Juarez on the US border https://t.co/kuItobmP8J
— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 7, 2016
- Boss of the powerful Sinaloa cartel
- “The World’s most-wanted drug trafficker”
- Captured February 2014
- Escaped from prison July 2015
- Recaptured in January 2016
What charges does he face?
Guzman faces a range of charges, including:
- money laundering
- drug trafficking
- kidnapping
- murder
He is wanted for questioning in a number of cities including Chicago, Miami and New York.
What have his lawyers said?
Juan Pablo Badillo, one of Guzman’s lawyers, says his client’s legal situation is still being processed.
Nine appeals are pending against his extradition.
Badillo says to extradite him now would be a violation of his human rights.
Off-the-record, officials have hinted that the decision to extradite Guzman is a political call and will be made by the president.