Mexico Extradites El Chapo Guzman's Son to U.S. on Fentanyl Trafficking Charges

Published on September 16, 2023, by Time Canvas 360

In a significant development, Mexico has extradited the son of the former Mexican drug cartel leader, El Chapo Guzman, to the United States. Iván Guzman, also known as "Little Chapo," will face fentanyl trafficking charges in a U.S. court following his capture by Mexican authorities after a fierce firefight.

This extradition is seen as a victory for the American government in its ongoing battle against the deadly opioid epidemic that continues to devastate communities across the United States. Iván Guzman's extradition to the U.S. was confirmed on Friday.

The 33-year-old Iván Guzman was last captured in January after an intense firefight with Mexican authorities. The U.S. government had requested his extradition in February. Notably, the extradition process for Mexican drug traffickers can often take several years, but in this case, Iván's removal to the U.S. occurred more swiftly than his father's extradition.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed gratitude to the Mexican government in a statement, saying, "The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic that has devastated too many communities across the country."

Iván Guzman had a brief arrest in 2019 but was released on orders of the Mexican president at that time to avoid potential violence. The U.S. State Department had been offering a reward worth millions of dollars for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Iván Guzman and three of his brothers.

Court documents reveal that they allegedly controlled extensive operations involved in trafficking fentanyl, a highly addictive and deadly substance that claims nearly 200 American lives daily. Their operations are believed to have reaped hundreds of millions of dollars in profits by flooding the United States with this lethal drug.

The extradition of Iván Guzman to the United States marks a significant step in the fight against the opioid epidemic, highlighting the international effort to combat the illicit drug trade.

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