Extradition of Ovidio Guzmán was legal: AMLO

The extradition of Ovidio Guzmán was legal, as stated by the President of Mexico during the morning press conference on September 20th.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador led the morning press conference from the National Palace, and among various topics, he reiterated that Ovidio Guzmán’s extradition was legal, even though it was an expedited measure.

AMLO assured that the extradition of Ovidio Guzmán was entirely legal and dismissed any concerns that the haste of the procedure might jeopardize the ongoing judicial process against alias ‘El Ratón’ in the United States.

“It’s a procedure resolved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to a request from the U.S. government.

On the 13th, they submitted the request; on the 14th, they notified the detainee, and on the 15th, the extradition took place,” said AMLO.

He further stated that it was a process followed within the full legal framework, and there should be no complaints regarding it.

“The timeframes are determined by the Attorney General’s Office, and they can provide information on that matter.

But I am confident it was entirely legal and in accordance with what the law establishes,” he added.

Doubts have arisen due to the swift process carried out to facilitate the extradition, without the fear of violent reprisals during its execution.

Extradition of Ovidio Guzmán

It is worth noting that Ovidio Guzmán, one of the sons of Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, pleaded not guilty on September 18th to the five charges he faces in the U.S. District Court in Chicago for drug trafficking and money laundering, as reported by U.S. media.

Also known as “El Ratón,” he is accused of conspiring to distribute drugs, being part of a criminal enterprise, exporting narcotics to the United States, conducting financial transactions with the proceeds of illegal activities, and unlawfully using and carrying firearms.

If found guilty, two of the charges carry a life sentence.

As part of the extradition negotiations with Mexican authorities, the death penalty was excluded.

The Sinaloa Cartel, the organization led by Ovidio Guzmán according to the U.S., is considered the “most powerful drug trafficking organization in the world” and is largely responsible for the production and manufacturing of fentanyl for distribution in the United States.

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