The United States accuses him of involvement in fentanyl trafficking and sparking an “opioid epidemic” in the country.
Ovidio Guzman, one of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman’s sons, was extradited from Mexico and arrived in the United States this Friday, US law enforcement officials confirmed.
“This action is the latest step in the Department of Justice’s efforts to attack all aspects of the Sinaloa Cartel’s operations,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Guzman, who was arrested by Mexican authorities in January, is one of the most wanted drug traffickers by the U.S. government for his involvement in fentanyl trafficking and is currently facing a series of federal charges in various courts around the country. He has been indicted.
Mexico extradites ‘El Chapo’ Guzman’s son to US
Prosecutors thanked the Mexican government for making Guzman’s extradition possible and pledged that the U.S. remains committed to prosecuting “those responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic that has devastated communities across the country.”
In April of this year, the U.S. justice system charged Guzmán and three of his brothers in three different federal districts for allegedly leading the Sinaloa Cartel after their father’s arrest and subsequent extradition to the United States. .
The charges were filed in the federal districts of southern New York, northern Illinois, and the District of Columbia as part of an investigation into “the world’s largest and most prolific fentanyl trafficking operation” led by the aforementioned cartels. by a Chinese pharmaceutical company that supplied the drug. ”
Sinaloa cartel and fentanyl
According to Washington, the Sinaloa Cartel is “the most powerful drug trafficking cartel in the world” and is primarily responsible for producing and manufacturing fentanyl for distribution in the United States, a drug believed to be 50 times more potent than heroin. is responsible for It is the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 49. ”
Mr. Guzman, known as “Chapitos,” and his brothers are also suspected of “systematically” transporting large quantities of cocaine to the United States through South and Central America, according to the Justice Department.
U.S. authorities say the organization has been involved in domestic drug trafficking operations for more than a decade and a half.
The Mexican military detained Guzmán on January 5 in the northern state of Sinaloa and later transferred him to the Federal Social Readjustment Center (Cefelezo) Altiplano 1 (also known as Almorroya Prison) in the state of Mexico. His father was detained but escaped in 2015.
Since December 2021, the United States has offered $5 million in restitution for his arrest and charged drug traffickers with crimes related to conspiracy to introduce drugs into the country.
Source: Biobiochile
