Medina Mora: The Question is When, not if“El Chapo” Will Be Extradited to the US

Ambassador Eduardo Medina Mora maintained today that the capture of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman was a Mexican victory, a display of the “maturity” of Mexico’s manner of cooperation with the United States, and that his extradition will fulfill the interests of both countries.

In an interview with the TV channel Univision, the Mexican diplomat noted that Mexico has never refused the extradition to the United States of any high-profile criminal.

“The point is the time or the moment in which this extradition will happen, since it will be the response to the criminal policy that serves the interests of Mexico and the United States on this matter. It isn’t a question of whether or not he will be extradited, but when,” he emphasized. [original quotes from Medina Mora in Spanish]

Medina Mora indicated that Guzman still has 13 years and nine months left from his first sentence, before escaping from prison in 2001, and five other ongoing trials in addition to those that got him to prison.

“It must be remembered that in the United States, the crime of drug trafficking does not have a prescription period or statute of limitations. So between the two countries, we can have plenty of charges to keep Mr. Guzman Loera in prison for a long time,” he affirmed.

Medina Mora made it clear that the arrest of the suspected leader of the Sinaloa Cartel was a “very significant” achievement made by Mexican authorities in Mexican territory.

Guzman was arrested on Feb. 22 in the resort city of MazatlanMazatlán by units from Mexico’s Secretariat of the Navy.

“We very much recognize and value the cooperation of the United States government. The information that was shared with Mexican authorities throughout many months allowed for the development of a plan of operation that allowed for his arrest at first opportunity,” said the ambassador.

“It is an undeniable success for Mexican law enforcement, and also a display of the maturity and composure with which Mexico and the United States as a team are approaching the fight against organized crime.”