Mexican drug lord ‘El Chapo’ to be extradited to US

Joaquin Guzman will face charges in courts in Texas and California following decision

Mexican drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman escorted by authorities after his detention, in Mexico City, Mexico. File photograph: Jose Mendez/EPA
Mexican drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman escorted by authorities after his detention, in Mexico City, Mexico. File photograph: Jose Mendez/EPA

Mexico's foreign ministry said on Friday it had approved the extradition of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States, and had received guarantees that the death penalty would not be sought against him.

It is unclear when Guzman will now be removed, but the ministry said he would face charges in US federal courts in Texas and California.

"El Chapo, " as he is known, was the head of the Sinaloa drug cartel and one of the world's most wanted drug kingpins until his capture in January, six months after he broke out of a high-security jail in central Mexico through a mile-long tunnel.

Reuters