El Chapo's Son, Ovidio Guzman Lopez of Los Chapitos, Has Been Denied Protection Against Extradition to US

The process to extradite Ovidio Guzman Lopez, the son of Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, to the United States will reportedly proceed after a Mexican court declared that it lacked legal jurisdiction to hear and resolve this case.

Local media reported that a Mexico City judge denied the definitive suspension in one of the injunction proceedings against Ovidio.

On January 10, the lawyers of El Chapo's son filed a writ of amparo against his deportation, expulsion, or extradition to the U.S., where he will face charges in a Washington D.C. court accusing him of trafficking drugs.

However, the judge junked the appeal, saying Ovidio is at the disposal of the control judge of the Federal Criminal Justice Center inside Altiplano maximum security federal prison at Almoloya de Juárez municipality in the state of Mexico, the Yucatan Times reported.

El Chapo's son is currently being held in the Altiplano prison. He can reportedly challenge the decision before a court, which will decide whether to confirm, modify or revoke the ruling.

On January 6, the Mexico City judge stopped Ovidio's extradition process to the U.S. after granting an amparo that also allowed him to contact his family and lawyers who requested the suspension of the extradition process.

El Chapo's 32-year-old son was arrested by military troops in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, on January 5.

Extradition of El Chapo's Son Ovidio Guzman Lopez to U.S. May Take Years

According to Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, there has been a request for the extradition of El Chapo's son by the U.S. since September 2019.

However, he said that Ovidio faces legal proceedings in Mexico, and any extradition to the U.S. could take some time, Vice reported.

Lawyers and former U.S. law enforcement officials involved in extraditions from Mexico told the outlet that the wait could vary from several months to years, or it may never even happen as the process is plagued by corruption and painfully slow, particularly in cases involving narco suspects with helpful information to share with investigators.

Following Ovidio's arrest, Gregorio Salazar Hernandez, control judge of the Federal Criminal Justice Centre in Almoloya de Juárez, said the U.S. government has 60 days to submit the documents needed for Ovidio's extradition.

Hernandez noted that the U.S. should formalize its extradition request before March 5.

El Chapo's Sons: The Los Chapitos

The four sons of El Chapo, known as Los Chapitos, had reportedly assumed leadership roles in the Sinaloa Cartel after their father was arrested and extradited to the U.S.

The Los Chapitos are Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar. Under their leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel has continued to be one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels.

The U.S. State Department has already offered $5 million rewards for any information that could help federal agents arrest El Chapo's four sons.

The State Department said the Los Chapitos are high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel and are each subject to a federal indictment for their involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Their father's former right-hand man, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, was reportedly the Los Chapitos' internal enemy number one.

El Chapo's sons have also been at odds with their uncle, Aureliano "El Guano" Guzman. El Chapo's brother is also a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel.

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

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