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New US extradition order for 'El Chapo'

September 23, 2015

Although a judge denied a similar order, Mexico has issued a new extradition warrant for Joaquin Guzman. Texas wants to put the fugitive drug kingpin on trial for multiple drug-related crimes.

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Joaquin Guzman
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Valtierra

The new request was made by the US state of Texas, which has charged Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman with charges related to organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering and murder.

Prosecutors obtained the new warrant on Wednesday, just weeks after a Mexican judge suspended a similar order.

58-year-old Guzman has been on the run since July 11 when he escaped from a maximum security prison through a hole under his cell shower, which led to a huge tunnel.

Second breakout

His escape was a major embarrassment for Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's administration as he had been recaptured just 17 months earlier following another jailbreak.

Guzman, who is known as the kingpin of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, also broke out of jail in 2001 and had been on the run for 13 years.

The hole that 'El Chapo' climbed through to escape
Police say 'El Chapo' must have had help from several people to plan his escape on July 11Image: Reuters

An earlier expulsion order was made after a request by California, but Guzman's lawyers filed a petition - with which the court sided - against the procedure. The original request was made before Guzman escaped.

Court hearings will be necessary in Mexico before the extradition request can be fulfilled, officials said.

Mexico's former Attorney General had said that Guzman wouldn't be extradited until he had served his sentences in Mexico.

Police have offered a reward of 3.4 million euros ($3.8 million) for information leading to his arrest.

Helped to escape

Meanwhile, Mexican authorities have said they will try the former director of the maximum security prison from which the notorious drug lord escaped.

The director, who has not been identified and who resigned after the escape, will face charges of aiding and abetting the jailbreak.

Eleven men and two women were arrested last week in connection with his escape.

mm/bw (AFP, AP)