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Mexico moves forward with ‘El Chapo’ extradition to US

by Jesse Byrnes - 05/20/16 3:07 PM ET

Mexico’s Foreign Relations department has given the extradition of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s to the United States the green light to proceed, according to The Associated Press.

{mosads}The approval is the next step toward bringing El Chapo to the U.S. after it was announced earlier this week that a second judge in Mexico had ruled the drug lord’s extradition could go forward.

The extradition process could still be appealed, delaying the former Sinaloa cartel leader’s transfer to the U.S. for weeks or months, according to the AP. Guzman’s lawyers have 30 days to appeal.

A Justice Department official was reluctant to declare the process finalized, citing the possibility of a prolonged appeal process.

“Although the two Mexican courts hearing the extradition requests issued positive rulings, the process has not yet concluded in Mexico,” the official said in an emailed statement. “Thus, Mexico has not yet approved Chapo’s extradition.”

The Mexican government said the U.S. provided “adequate guarantees” that Guzman would not face the death penalty, which is illegal under Mexico’s law.

According to the Justice Department, the U.S. does not seek the death penalty in extradition cases involving Mexico “as a matter of course.”

Guzman is expected to face charges in Texas and California under extradition requests covered by Friday’s ruling, according to the AP. Those charges include conspiracy to import and distribute cocaine and marijuana, arms possession, murder and money laundering.

Guzman, who was recaptured by Mexican authorities in January after months after being on the run, was moved earlier this month to a high-security prison near the U.S. border in Ciudad Juárez.

– Updated at 3:44 p.m.

Tags El Chapo