McCaul: Extradite ‘El Chapo’

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) on Sunday called for the extradition of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the head of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, whom McCaul called “the world’s most notorious drug lord.” [WATCH VIDEO]

{mosads}Guzman was taken into custody early Saturday in Mazatlan, Mexico, by U.S. and Mexican authorities.

“This is a significant victory for both Mexico and the U.S.,” said McCaul, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, on ABC’s “This Week.”

“This is the world’s most notorious drug lord, the godfather of the cartels” McCaul said. “The biggest fish ever.”

“This is a huge event,” he added, likening it to the death of Pablo Escobar in Columbia, after which cartels in that country “began to unravel.”

McCaul said Mexico “showed great cooperation,” in apprehending Guzman, but when asked if he would like to see Guzman extradited to the U.S., McCaul said, “I would.”

While Mexico would normally prosecute Guzman first, McCaul said, “There’s a history here. He escaped prison; there is corruption.”

McCaul said extraditing Guzman to the U.S., where he faces multiple charges in multiple locations, would be the “best course of action” for both the U.S. and Mexico.”

“The track record’s not good with this individual,” McCaul said. “This is an exceptional case.”

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn said later Sunday his office plans to seek Guzman’s extradition to face a variety of charges, according to Reuters.

— This report was updated at 1:25 p.m.