Monday, June 6, 2016

Extradition of Joaquín Guzmán ("El Chapo")

Mexican Embassy, Washington, D.C.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico (SRE) informs that (on May 20), inside the detention facility “Centro Federal de Readaptación Social Número 9” in Ciudad Juárez, in the State of Chihuahua, Mr. Joaquín Guzmán Loera was notified of the decisions by which the Government of Mexico has granted the international extradition request by the Government of the United States of America to allow Mr. Guzmán to be prosecuted before the US District Court For The Western District Of Texas, where he will face charges of criminal conspiracy (criminal association), crimes against public health, organized crime, firearms violations, murder and money laundering, as well as before the US District Court For The Southern District Of California, where he is charged with conspiracy to import and possess cocaine for the purpose of distribution. Those requests were granted on the grounds that both conform with each and every one of the provisions set in the Extradition Treaty between the United Mexican States and the United States of America.

To reach said decisions, SRE took into account the facts and legal considerations put forth by the Eighth and Third District Judges of Criminal Processes in Mexico City, both of whom agreed the extradition requests were appropriate.

It is of outmost importance to mention that the U.S. Government presented sufficient assurances that Mr. Guzmán Loera would not be subject to the death penalty should he be extradited and prosecuted in the U.S.

The accused may challenge this decision through the “Juicio de Amparo” (Amparo proceedings) according to Mexico’s Law for International Extradition.

Once both decisions are final and executable (non-appealable), according to the Extradition Law, it will be the Attorney General’s Office of Mexico (PGR) which will surrender the suspect to the American authorities designated for that purpose.

——————————

Press release, May 20, 2016, Mexican Embassy in the USA, Washington, D.C.